About time,the Nigerian Army has vowed to punish its personnel who were caught on camera Saturday mistreating civilians they said are suspected armed robbers.
A photograph of the incident was published in the Monday edition of Abuja-based Daily Trust newspaper.
The shocking photograph was made public at a time the Nigerian military is battling to extricate itself from allegations of gross human rights abuses.
Amnesty International released a report on June 3 accusing the Nigerian military of being responsible for the deaths of about 8,000 prisoners in their fight against insurgency.
The report recommended the prosecution of some senior military commanders, including some past service chiefs, on allegations of war crimes.
President Muhammadu Buhari responded to the report by ordering the armed forces to undertake an internal inquiry over the allegations.
The president said a final decision on what course his administration would pursue concerning the allegations would ultimately be dependent on the advice of an Attorney General who is yet to be appointed.
The spokesperson for the Army, Sani Usman, a colonel, said the action of the soldiers caught maltreating civilians on Saturday has done incalculable damage to the image of the service, and is at variance with military ethics and professionalism.
Mr. Usman said the perpetrators had been identified and would be punished accordingly.
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