ADELEKE ADESANYA
Ohanaeze Ndigbo on Thursday fumed as an officer of Nigerian Army, Lt. Chika Viola Anele, allegedly maltreated a corps member, Ezeiruaku Ifenyinwa Fidelia, in Cross Rivers State.
Fidelia is serving in the 13th Brigade Command of the Nigerian Army in Calabar, the state capital.
The video of the incident went viral on the internet after it was caught on camera.
Reacting to the development, Ohanaeze’s President in Cross River, Ugoji Nwabueze in a statement on Friday condemned the act by the army officer.
Nwabueze expressed disappointment in the officer, who was supposed to protect the citizens.
“No matter the height of provocation, Anele crossed the red line of decorum and decency expected of an officer of that level”, Nwabueze noted.
He also appreciated the effort of the Brigade Commander for offering an immediate investigation that led to the identification and arrest of the suspect.
Army spokesman, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the officer’s behaviour was against established precepts of discipline.
“The NA condemns this unimaginable level of infraction by personnel in its ranks. The officer’s actions have caused the NA monumental embarrassment,” he said.
Nwachukwu announced that Anele will undergo regimental orders (trial) in line with the extant provisions of the Armed Forces Act.