In a recent development, public interest and human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has formally petitioned the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, seeking the identification and punishment of a group of Army personnel allegedly involved in the assault of Police Officer ASP Edet Inyang.
Effiong took to his X handle on Thursday night to share the information, detailing the incident that occurred on December 9, 2023, at a store near the Nigerian Army’s 63 Brigade in Asaba, Delta State. According to the statement, Inyang, who was on a personal errand, was assaulted by an unidentified group of Army personnel.
President Bola Tinubu’s recent warning to the Nigerian Army against retaliatory assaults on police or civilians was highlighted in the statement, emphasizing the need for restraint in such situations.
The lawyer, referencing a statement by former Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, emphasized the Army’s zero tolerance for human rights abuses. Effiong presented a statement titled “How Nigerian Army Personnel Tortured and Brutalised Serving Police Officer ASP Edet Inwang Till He Lost Consciousness Over Alleged Wrong Parking,” accompanied by video and photo evidence.
The statement recounted the incident, revealing that ASP Edet Inyang had parked his vehicle at a store near the 63 Brigade when he was approached by an Army Lance Corporal and subsequently brutalized by over 10 soldiers. Inyang suffered injuries to the point of losing consciousness, requiring medical care at a military hospital.
Effiong urged the Chief of Army Staff to swiftly investigate the matter, identify the culprits, and ensure they face legal consequences. He also called for adequate compensation for ASP Edet Inyang, highlighting the grave violation of his fundamental human rights. The lawyer concluded by appealing for urgent attention from the Nigerian Army to address and rectify this alarming incident.