The Nigerian Army has dismissed from service four soldiers of the Brigade of Guards who were involved in the rape and extortion of some women in Abuja last month.
According to authorities of the Guards Brigade, the four paraded soldiers were all found guilty of the offences, as alleged by their victims
The panel set up by Commander of the Brigade of Guards, led by Brigadier General Emmanuel Atewe investigated six soldiers who were on duty when the incident occurred, finding four of them culpable and consequently dismissing them from service.
Peter Elayo, a major attached to the Guards Brigade who spoke on behalf of the Commander of the Guards Brigade, said the Board of Inquiry discovered that the soldiers abandoned their duty post for an unknown destination, contrary to directives. He added that the soldiers would be handed over to the Police for prosecution.
“The Commander of Guards Brigade immediately convened a Board of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding this grave allegation with a view to taking punitive action and prevent a future occurrence,” he said.
“The board whose report has already been submitted was able to establish that four soldiers during the period abandoned their duty post to an unauthorised destination. The Brigade subsequently authorised Guards Brigade Provost Company to carry out a detailed investigation into the incident and forward its finding for necessary action.
“The military police investigation led to their trial and they were found guilty of misdemeanour and abandoning their duty location where they were officially deployed to protect installations, thereby compromising security. The soldiers have subsequently been dismissed from service in line with service discipline and procedure.”
The affected soldiers were alleged to have raped some women, including a married woman on December 18, 19 and 20, 2012 and extorted some money from the victims at River Plate Park, close to the Federal Character Commission, Central Business District, Abuja.
Following media reports of the incident, the National Human Rights Commission petitioned authorities of the Nigerian Army and the Police to identify those behind the dastardly act for punishment.
The Army responded through its Director of Information, Major General Bola Koleosho, saying those who raped the victims would be dismissed, as they could no longer be associated with the service or with such despicable acts.
Leader of the rape and extortion, 33-year-old Corporal, Nse (surname withheld) pleaded to Chief of Army staff Lt Gen Azubuike Ihejirika for mercy saying he was pushed into the inglorious act by “the enemy.”
The corporal and other soldiers were deployed to protect an Airtel mast at Wuse Zone II, Abuja in December 2012, when they committed the crimes of rape and extortion. Corporal Nse is married with two children.
“Please what happened has happened; this is the first time I am involved in such a thing,” he said in his plea for mercy. “The Chief of Army Staff should please forgive us. Some of us have children; it is the handiwork of the enemy. I am from Akwa Ibom, my name is Nse, I am 33 and married with two children: a boy and a girl; they should forgive us. This is the first time have been involved in a thing like this.”
