Army to try officer for dehumanising NYSC member

BA military officer has been filmed manhandling a female member of the National Youth Service corps (NYSC) in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

In a video, Lt. Chika Viola Anele, of 13th Brigade Command of the Nigerian Army, Calabar, appeared to be pouring a substance suspected to be dirty water on Ezeiruaku Ifenyinwa Fidelia, who was kneeling clad in her NYSC uniform.

The Corps member is reportedly serving in the 13th Brigade.

It was unclear what may have caused trouble between the Army officer and the Corps member who seemed to have been forced to on her knees

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“This is dehumanising and humiliating,” a blogger who posted the video, said.

The Army has condemned the action of the officer, describing it as “unprofessional and against established precepts of discipline in the NA.”

Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu said in a statement that “the NA condemns this unimaginable level of infraction by a personnel in its ranks. The NA therefore condemns in strong terms this act of gross misconduct. Undoubtedly, the officer’s action has caused the NA monumental embarrassment and is highly regrettable.”

Nwachukwu said the officer’s action “will not be condoned”, and tendered an “unreserved apology to the victim, her family members, friends, NYSC and to Nigerians in general for the unwholesome treatment meted out to the Corps member.”

The Army said the officer has been sanctioned in the interim and will undergo regimental trial.