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Abdulkareem Suleiman Ladan helping his wounded brother off
the reception for medical attention |
Nasarawa
SSG reception: Soldier flogs, inflicts injury on invited guest
SSG reception: Soldier flogs, inflicts injury on invited guest
By
Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu
Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu
Abuja
One
of the soldiers manning the entrance gate of the Muhammadu Buhari Multipurpose Hall of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa,
where the reception in honour of the newly appointed Secretary to Government of
Nasarawa state (SSG) and former Commissioner for Education, Nasarawa state,
Honourable Aliyu Ahmad Tijani Saturday flogged and inflicted injury on a guest.
of the soldiers manning the entrance gate of the Muhammadu Buhari Multipurpose Hall of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa,
where the reception in honour of the newly appointed Secretary to Government of
Nasarawa state (SSG) and former Commissioner for Education, Nasarawa state,
Honourable Aliyu Ahmad Tijani Saturday flogged and inflicted injury on a guest.
The
incident occurred when the state governor Engr Abdullahi Alhaji Sule and his entourage were going inside the hall. So
the soldier in a bid to clear the way for the governor, flogged mercilessly the
invited guest who was also struggling to enter the hall even before the arrival
of the governor.
incident occurred when the state governor Engr Abdullahi Alhaji Sule and his entourage were going inside the hall. So
the soldier in a bid to clear the way for the governor, flogged mercilessly the
invited guest who was also struggling to enter the hall even before the arrival
of the governor.
In
this process, the guest got the wrath of the soldier who used horse whip (koboko)
to inflict injury on him on the toes, which were oozing blood at the time of filing
this report.
this process, the guest got the wrath of the soldier who used horse whip (koboko)
to inflict injury on him on the toes, which were oozing blood at the time of filing
this report.
The
man could not talk at the time because of the shock he received, so he was
helped by his brother, Abdulkareem Suleiman Ladan.
man could not talk at the time because of the shock he received, so he was
helped by his brother, Abdulkareem Suleiman Ladan.
A
sympathiser who preferred anonymity said,
“Soldiers were trained to defend the country’s integrity and protect civilians but
not to treat civilians like a cow in a civil event. Our soldiers need
orientation.”
sympathiser who preferred anonymity said,
“Soldiers were trained to defend the country’s integrity and protect civilians but
not to treat civilians like a cow in a civil event. Our soldiers need
orientation.”
The
victim’s brother Ladan told Blueprint, “Soldiers are trained to fight war. But not to
beat civilians in an event that is called by politicians.
victim’s brother Ladan told Blueprint, “Soldiers are trained to fight war. But not to
beat civilians in an event that is called by politicians.
“How
can a soldier beat an invited guest in a reception in a democratic setting?
can a soldier beat an invited guest in a reception in a democratic setting?
“Why will civilians use soldier to intimidate
people of the society; people he is to protect? “My brother is not an animal. After
all, the celebrant, Aliyu Tijani, is our brother whom we came to felicitate
with.
people of the society; people he is to protect? “My brother is not an animal. After
all, the celebrant, Aliyu Tijani, is our brother whom we came to felicitate
with.
“My
brother was not even warned to step out of the way. He was just flogged like an
animal. You can see the wound on his toes.”
brother was not even warned to step out of the way. He was just flogged like an
animal. You can see the wound on his toes.”
Ladan said the injured man was his elder brother, so he carried him off the
scene for medical attention.
scene for medical attention.
Before
the incident, the soldiers at the enrance gate of the hall had refused some
journalists and important personalities entry into the hall. Only traditional
rulers and well known personalities were allowed inside through a special gate
behind the hall.
the incident, the soldiers at the enrance gate of the hall had refused some
journalists and important personalities entry into the hall. Only traditional
rulers and well known personalities were allowed inside through a special gate
behind the hall.
The
stranded guests outside were wondering how a reception called by a politician should
be done inside the hall which could only take about one third of the guests.
stranded guests outside were wondering how a reception called by a politician should
be done inside the hall which could only take about one third of the guests.