Facebook user, Abuchi Onwumelu shared these photos of the Nigerian army meeting with the crippled man who was assaulted by soldiers in Onitsha for wearing a military camouflage.
“Nigeria Army versus physically challenged (cripple), Chijioke Raphael Uraku. Happening now at 302 Artillery Regiment/14 field engineer regiment, onitsha: photo caption: the new 302 Commander, Col. Idongesit Uko Akpan and the deputy director public relations (82 div), Col. Sagir Musa with the assaulted cripple, Mr. Chijioke Raphael Uraku a native of Ikwo Ebonyi State shortly after the world press conference. Abuchi Onwumelu of fides newspaper, who covers the event, reports that the soldiers who carried out the dastardly act have been apprehended and subjected to face disciplinary actions. cash gift and assorted clothes were presented to the victim. Nigeria army condemned the unwholesome act. addressing newsmen ……”
Credit: Abuchi Onwumelu, Facebook
I’m disappointed to read this occurrence as ‘molestation’ because it was not. I want whoever qualified it as such to revisit any English dictionary for the meaning of it. This was an abject case of aggravated assault on a helpless, powerless, physically challenged individual – it tops many past atrocities committed by uniformed personnel in Nigeria. A foreign friend was the first to send me the clip and from what I viewed, the victim could have died. That is no molestation, that is physical cruelty and abuse on a defenceless civilian, disabled as well. The manner in which he was being dragged and the fact that his wheelchair was discarded with such force could only translate as a pre-meditated attack. After all, the poor soul was only going about his own business. The fact that he wore a ‘military camo’ didn’t mean he was impersonation as a soldier, OR was he?
A huge compensation should be awarded against the Nigerian Army for this, it’s not something to mitigate by stage-managed pleasantries from the commander.
One wonders when Nigeria will join the society of the ‘civil’.