Assault on traffic wardens: Army arrests, probes soldier

The Nigerian Army has arrested one soldier in connection with the assault on two traffic wardens in Ibadan while immediate investigation to identify and arrest the rest of the culprits has started.

Some men in military uniform suspected to be soldiers had appeared in a viral video wherein two traffic wardens were assaulted in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The incident, which video has gone viral on social media, as learnt, occurred on Friday, 7th January, 2022, at Adeoye Road by Ring Road, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

While reacting to the development, the Director Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, noted that an investigation had been ordered to ascertain the identity and arrest the culprits.

Nwachukwu, who condemned the incident, added that a Lance Corporal of the Nigerian Army had been taken into custody, assuring Nigerians that the remaining culprits would be arrested.

The statement read: “Following the viral video of an assault on two traffic wardens by men on military uniform suspected to be soldiers, the Headquarters Nigerian Army ordered immediate investigation to identify and arrest the culprits. Preliminary investigation has shown that the unfortunate incident took place on Friday, 7 January, 2022 at Adeoye Road by Ring Road, Ibadan.

“The investigation is also already yielding results as one of assailants, a Lance Corporal of the Nigerian Army has been taken into custody. Efforts are being made in collaboration with the Oyo State Command of the Nigerian Police Force to identify, locate and arrest the remaining culprits.

“Even as investigation is still ongoing, the Nigerian Army wishes to dissociate itself from the very reprehensible conduct of the individuals seen in that video. The vicious attack on fellow security personnel or any unarmed citizens in the manner seen in the video is not consistent with the ethos and professionalism of the Nigerian Army and therefore stands condemned in very strong terms.

“At the end of investigation, anyone found culpable in the sordid incident will be made to face the full wrath of the disciplinary provisions of the Nigerian Army.”