The Nigerian Army has offered clothing and undisclosed amount of money as<\/p>\n
succour to Mr Chijioke Orakwu, a physically challenged person, assaulted
\nby two military police officers in Onitsha for allegedly wearing army
\ncamouflage.<\/p>\n
Orakwu was manhandled by two soldiers on Feb. 7, at New Market Road,<\/p>\n
Col. Sagir Musa, the Deputy Director, Public Relations, 82 Division of the
\nNigerian Army, presented the item and cash on Friday.<\/p>\n
Musa said that the Army would not condone acts of indiscipline or gross
\nmisconduct by any member.<\/p>\n
He said that the action of the soldiers did not reflect the attitude of
\ntoday\u2019s soldiers under the leadership of Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlready, those who perpetrated the act have been arrested and tried, and
\nbecause of the seriousness of the offence, they have been referred to
\nhigher authorities for further action.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Nigerian Army is seriously concerned about the incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to assure Nigerians, particularly the international community
\nthat the Nigerian Army has core values and respect for the rights of
\npeople,\u201d Musa said.<\/p>\n
The army spokesman urged the public to view the case as an isolated one,
\nassuring that future assault similar to the Onitsha incident would be
\ntreated with serious action.<\/p>\n
He said the army volunteered to take Orakwu to hospital but that he
\nrefused orthodox medication.<\/p>\n
Musa added that the doctors, who examined him physically, confirmed him to
\nbe physically fit.<\/p>\n
The army spokesman emphasised that the items given to Orakwu were not to
\ncompensate him but to show that the Nigerian Army cares and respect rights
\nof individuals.
\n\u201cAll we did was not an issue of compensation but to show Nigerians and the
\ninternational public that the Nigerian Army is disciplined, responsive and
\nresponsible, and that we care,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Army, he said, had warned against the abuse of military uniforms,
\nsaying it remain its policy which the army holds in high esteem.<\/p>\n
Also, the Commander, 302 Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, Col. Idongesit
\nAkpan, assured that such incident would not repeat itself.<\/p>\n
The representative of the state government, Dr Victoria Chikwelu,
\nexpressed satisfaction with the efforts of the Army in handling the case.<\/p>\n
He said that Gov. Willie Obiano was not in doubt of what the Army would do
\nas regards the disciplinary measures against the perpetrators.<\/p>\n
\u201cObiano has passion for the physically challenged and that is why he
\nappointed one of them as his Special Assistant and also built three
\nspecial skill acquisitions centres for their use,\u201d Chikwelu said.<\/p>\n
Chikwelu, who is the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social
\nDevelopment, said that the state government had plans to also empower
\nOrakwu at a later date.<\/p>\n
Responding, Orakwu, who expressed happiness, commended the army for the
\nkind gesture. (NAN)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Nigerian Army has offered clothing and undisclosed amount of money as succour to Mr Chijioke Orakwu, a physically challenged person, assaulted by two military police officers in Onitsha for…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26586,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n