By Austin Oyibode
Students of
Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, are angry over the manner members of
the 222 Battalion of the Nigeria Army allegedly brutalise students of the
university over unnecessary issues in the university town of Delta state.
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| Soldiers carrying out the brutalization acts on a student. |
In a statement by President of Faculty of
Social Sciences, Comrade Tomi Akporoghene, the students condemned the action of
the 222 Battalion under the operation codenamed ‘Operation Delta Safe.’
Soldiers abdicate duties, harass, brutalise students in Delta state university.
The students
alleged that the soldiers who are paid to protect lives of students have
abandoned their duties to public intimidation of unarmed students whose freedom
of movement is guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution.
The statement
said rather than focus on the marauding Fulani herdsmen who are killing
Nigerians daily, the soldiers are dealing with innocent students who are no
threat to public peace.
The statement
reads in part: “On Wednesday, 22nd March, 2017, two female students were
unnecessarily harassed for putting on shorts by men of the Nigerian Army. It
still bothers student leaders, human rights activists, security conscious
Deltans and lawyers alike that men of the Nigerian army attached to the 222
Battalion serving in Abraka are no longer bothered about the security of Nigerians,
but about what they wear. Nigerian Army harass female students, brutalise
others in Delta.
“We want to know when it became illegal for
ladies to wear shorts to reduce the impact of the heat from the scorching sun. The
following day, another student, Mr. Emmanuel, was publicly brutalized for not
stepping on the breaks of his car when they wanted him to. “Later in the
evening of the same day, another student, was flogged mercilessly for returning
home a few minutes past 10pm after charging his phone in a friend's house.
“Without any
successful arrest of those actually perpetuating evil in the students town, the
men of the Nigerian Army have recorded huge successes in the violation of the
fundamental human rights of the greatest Nigerian students which should not be
so. As student leaders, we openly condemn this act, it is not only uncalled for
but a total violation of the internationally approved rules of engagements.”
The students called
on Delta state government, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, the
Nigerian Senate and the Delta state house of assembly to investigate the
alleged violation of the rights of the students by members of the Nigerian army
in Abraka.
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Source:Naij.com
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