soldier was allegedly beat up in Benin on Saturday during the ongoing
enforcement of lockdown order by the state government as part of the
measures put in place by the government to contain the spread of the
corona virus in the state.
It was reported that the rift ensued between a Police Officer and a
Soldier (though on mufti) after the soldier allegedly refused to wear a
face mask.
“To set the record straight, there is no Civil Defence officer that is
involved in the unfortunate incident among the security men in
Benin-City between 1 pm and 1:30 pm at the popular Lagos Street/Oba
Market Street junction in downtown Benin, the allegation is false and a
calculated attempt to smear the image of the Corps and existing synergy
between Corps and Nigeria Army.
“There has been a lot of talk that the security agencies don’t get
along,” that is not the case between Civil Defence and Nigerian Army,
both agencies have the same spirit, the spirit of defending the
country.”
As a citizen’s friendly organization, we are very civil in our
operations, and base on the order of the Commandant General of the
Corps, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, he has since ordered that, no personnel
should carry arms during Covid 19 lockdown/curfew enforcement and this
is been adhere to nationwide.
The Commandant General, appreciate media outfits in the country for
collaborating with the Corps in discharging our duty, and it is a clear
fact that the role of the media in information dissemination, public
enlightenment and education to people at the grassroots and urban areas
cannot be underestimated. But the journalists should work in line with
the ethics of the profession, part of which required the publishing of
only verified and accurate stories in order not to mislead the general
public.
Consequently, Commandant General has immediately directed a full-scale
investigation into the matter.