Soldiers beat officials, foil arraignment of offenders

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There was confusion at the Edo State Magistrates’ Court, Benin, on Wednesday, when some soldiers reportedly stormed the court premises and beat up officials of the Edo State Committee on War Against Indiscipline.
The soldiers also stopped proceedings at the magistrates’ court on Sapele Road at about 1pm and foiled an attempt by the WAI officials to arraign four persons for alleged traffic offences.
It was learnt that the soldiers, allegedly attached to Setraco, a construction firm, drove into the court premises in two Hilux vans and corked their riffles, causing policemen and court officials to scamper for safety.

It was gathered that the soldiers had earlier raided the office of the agency on Ezoti Street and the Ministry of Works, after a woman, who was among those arrested, put a call across to an unidentified person.
The Chairman of WAI, Mr. David Olukoga, said two officials of WAI were hospitalised due to injuries sustained during the incident.

He said, “In less than 10 minutes, a van pulled up with about seven soldiers and they started beating everybody on sight. They injured all the workers and tried to remove the (impounded) vehicle but they could not, until some policemen came to the officials’ rescue.

“And when rescue came, we were able to apprehend the woman and the person she called and brought them to the court for harassment, intimidation and molestation of government workers.
“While we were still at the court, we heard that they (soldiers) went to the Ministry of Works and beat up people. From there, they moved to the court, chased away policemen, magistrates and everybody. They released the suspects who were on trial.”

Olukoga, who described the incident as disappointing, urged the leadership of the Four Brigade Command to caution the soldiers.

“This is very sad and I don’t think we can continue like this. This is not the Nigerian Army we used to know. We are calling on their commandant to caution the soldiers.
“They (soldiers) are from Setraco. Action must be taken against this particular set of soldiers. We are not going to allow this issue to rest,” he added.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Four Brigade Command, Captain Jonah Unuakhalu, said that he would get back to our correspondent.
But he had yet to do so at the time of filing the report.