Army finds soldiers who attacked court, WAI men

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The Four Brigade Command of the Nigerian Army says it has identified six military officers, who attacked some officials of the Edo State Committee on War Against Indiscipline and foiled the arraignment of four traffic offenders at the state Magistrates’ Court in Benin on Wednesday.
It, however, declined comments on whether the affected officers had been arrested.

Our correspondent had reported that some soldiers had stormed the court premises on Sapele Road, in two Hilux vans, and beaten up the officials before driving off with the four persons who were about to face trial for traffic offences.

The military officers had earlier attacked the WAI office on Ezoti Street, shortly after one of the suspected traffic offenders put a call across to an unidentified person.

The attack was said to have left two of the WAI officials hospitalised.

The soldiers, who were allegedly attached to Setraco, a construction firm, had also caused panic among magistrates, judiciary workers and other security personnel, when they reportedly corked their riffles.

But the command’s Public Relations Officer, Captain Jonah Unuakhalu, told our correspondent on Thursday that the army had commenced investigation on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He said, “We have identified the soldiers and they will face the consequence of their action because nobody sent them to do what they did yesterday (Wednesday).

“The matter is under investigation and anyone (found) culpable will definitely face appropriate measure of discipline.”

Unuakhalu, who did not disclose the names and ranks of the soldiers, however, added that the command would not spare any of its officers found wanting.

He also noted that the command would later make its official position on the matter public.