Army's Brutality: Justice for Lawal

 Army's Brutality: Justice for Lawal

On the

eve of Eid al-Fitr, armed members of the Nigerian army descended on a defenceless citizen in Birnin Gwari of Kaduna State, violating the conventions of the nation that uphold person's dignity. Malam Lawal lay hopelessly on the sickbed as the Muslim community celebrated the holiday. Lieutenant Colonel Muhammed Salihu, an officer in the Nigerian Army, gave the order for the savage conduct that left the victim with severe injuries.

The victim and a large number of bystanders believe that Mal Lawal and Lieutenant Colonel Salihu's social media spat preceded the victim's cruel treatment. The lieutenant combines political office with military duty. It is obvious that the two come from different political backgrounds. The army officer was incensed that Lawal had just expressed his political preferences.

A gang of troops from the Nigerian Army picked up the gentleman in an extremely brutal way three months after their Facebook chat. He was beaten beaten. The lawless men's hands caused him to receive serious injuries, including fractures. 

As law-abiding individuals and believers in the primacy of law and order, we worry that if men in uniform are permitted to enforce the law on the basis of the their caprices, anarchy will reign supreme. It will lead to impunity and rights violations throughout the nation.

 We are aware of our constitution's guarantees of the freedoms of speech and assembly. The state already has channels via which those who feel wronged can file complaints. This officer gathered his underlings to mistreat this poor civilian, showing a flagrant disregard for protocol.

For the sake of their reputation, we hereby demand that the Nigerian Army in particular and the Nigerian Military in general look into this incident. We further urge the National Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International, civil society organisations, and all advocates for due process to make certain that the victim receives justice and that those responsible for the horrible act are held accountable.