Thank God for Nairaland , the world watches yar adua government from here,
Then thank God again for nigerian's love for camera phone.
and finally thank God because whether the govt likes it or not every nigerian is now a journalist ,activist ,
The people now have a voice and the Goverment will be forced to listen.

Its just a shame that this story as to make headlines on the people's forum first before making headlines on those on ground hypocritical, brown envelope taking,yeye newspaper (S).

They are being paid to bring us the news of any ill being done to the people but they too fear too take eguunje, too craze sef and when the revolution comes they are bound to be taking under too.

They better stand up for the people cos the people are wiser NOW than ever .

ONE DAY BUSH MEAT GO CATCH THE HUNTER, YEYE GOVT

@cheavroi

the naval side of the story is full of corrupt lies.

Officers should not get involved in such acts with civilians.

They could ARREST her for standing in the way of the minister - this is far better than flogging somebody with horsewips.

After the arrest, it will then be debated in the court if any part of the constitution says we should give way to govt officials.

Where they not taught to arrest someone PEACEFULLY? maybe those guys had psychological issues. I'm sure they felt "cool" while beating up the lady.

This is complete heart broken, even me wey be MAN sef i feel for this young lady, the only thing wey make happy na NGO & people wey rise up for JUSTICE like Project Alert, Women Arise, Real Woman Foundation and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Prof. WOLE SHOYINKA, the list too longgg, U can read it yourself,

http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20081107184896    -  wetin Senate talk

http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20081107155662    -  wetin Fashola talk[color=#006600][/color][font=Lucida Sans Unicode][/font]

This are the people that pledge an oath to portrait and serve there country
just look at what they are doing fighting a helplees woman.
come then up now and tell then that there is a war going on and you are
sending those idiot there now, they are just go to put in there resignation
letter immediately.

May those involved in dis barbaric act die of agro. The bastards.

Not to take away from the seriousness of the crime committed by those navy sailors against that lady, but can we please have an HONEST a show of hands, to enumerate all readers of this thread who tuned in here to ascertain just how naked the girl was stripped by the Navy apes.

It won't be surprising to soon see brisk sales in bootleg copies of the video shot by the Nigerian Navy Admiral himself, as his guards committed the assault that day.

since i saw d video, i ve bin in shock, a friend sent d pic 2 cnn and bbc,, in no tym it will be shown there,thats if its not yet shown,
this is wicked, as i type i'm shaking cos its as if i was d woman in question, tears rolled down my eyes,
but people until sumtin is done i wont stop, spreading this newa, i'm so ashamed of dis Rear Admiral Harry Arogundade,
now he claims he was not in d convoy, wat a white lie, he should sacked patapata,

Now they are threatening the punch staff for putting up a write up. God pls help us.

These ratings and their admiral were trained by Uzoma and her dad's taxes.

The cowards only show their training on defenceless civilians.

If it were to be a man he would have been shot and they would claim he is an armed robber and the suspected killer of Bola Ige.

I dont even want an apology from the man we want him to be flogged in the same manner and stripped too of his ranks and clothes for abusing

the power given to him. why should anyone leave the road for him? Is he an ambulance or the fire service? Or bullion van? what is special about him

for people to leave the road for him.

he is a naval admiral part of those who do oil bunkering on the high sea. A whole ship got missing nothing was done the only thing

he could think of was to beat and strip a woman in daylight because she did not leave the road for him. She has obviously forgotten that

Arogundade is GOD almighty.

Here's the lady's account of the whole issue:


‘My Ordeal In The Hands Of Naval Ratings’—Brutalised Woman
1 hour ago, 107 views

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Twenty-seven-year-old Uzoma Okere has narrated her ordeal in the hands of some Naval officers to governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state, saying she was manhandled by them.

Okere said the naval men, attached to Rear Admiral Olufemi Arogundade, Monday night, on Victoria Island, assaulted her and tore her clothes.

She said the officers had asked her to stop since their boss was on the same road. ”I tried to move my car to the left side of the road but before I knew what was happening, one of them came out of a car in the convoy of the naval officer and whipped me while I was still seated in my car.

“I came out and I held on to the whip. Four other ratings rushed at me, held my hands and tried to put a handcuff on me. “One of them tore my shirt. I tried to adjust it and get back into the car but they whipped me,” she narrated, adding that a man who tried to challenge them, was hit on the head with the butt of a gun.

“They dragged out the other ladies in my car, both of them were pregnant women and beat them up. “While all this was going on, they pulled me into the compound where the Rear Admiral had driven into and I was screaming for someone to call my dad. One of my colleagues got the phone and called my father,” she said.

Her father spoke with the Rear Admiral on phone and the Admiral told her that he knew her father at the Nigeria Military School.

“My father was his senior, I think my father was in class five while he was in year one. After that, the Rear Admiral said I could go and I said I can’t go with my shirt torn.

“He asked one of his guys to get me a shirt. As I was going out, I met a mob and they asked whether he apologised and I said no. They asked me to wait until he apologised.

“A couple of minutes later, he tried to drive out but the mob stopped him. He went back and his guys came out with whips and were ready to shoot anybody. They whipped some people who waited,” she added. Governor Fashola condemned the inhuman treatment of Okere by the naval men and assured her that justice would be done to the case.

“As a member of government, even though they (the naval officers) are not an agency of the state government, I will apologise to you. Those who exercise authority in the state, and have the responsibility of protecting you have actually turned against you.

“This matter has been brought to my attention by e-mails. At this moment, I can assure you that our democracy will protect you. You will get justice” he assured the lady.

The governor said he has summoned the Solicitor-General of the state and the head of the Office of the Public Defender (OPD). “They will meet you and hear your story in details and continue to advise you,” he said.

Fashola said the state government was ready to offer the lady free legal assistance, adding that he would make a representation to president Umaru Yar’Adua on the matter.

“I am sure that you will get justice. The wheel of justice may turn slowly but we will turn this one to go fast. I don’t think any act of provocation could have justified what I have seen but it remains to be heard from the other side what happened,” he said.

http://thepmnews.com/2008/11/07/my-ordeal-in-the-hands-of-naval-ratings-%E2%80%94brutalised-woman

MAD BASTARDS!

Flogging a woman with horsewhip? He should be relieved of his role, and fired without pay. Worthless and useless element to the society. An epitome of disgrace to the Nigerian Navy. Let him go back to the streets as just any common ordinary human being.

BLOODY IDIOT.

I think more Nigerians should make good use of the camera phones for such good purposes. Those who have small digital cameras should also get in on the act.

If those animals know that there could be someone somewhere recording their acts, it will serve as a minor deterrent

police or people in uniform brutality happens every where - don't use this to stigmatise Nigeria

Did you all see what i_Laugh said at the top?  I wonder how many of us in here read and digest information before shooting opinions.

It is unlawful and inhumane to treat anybody the way the woman was treated but the problem should not be used as a rallying point to demonize Nigeria, it happens everywhere.  The rate of such brutalities, per thousand of population head, where civilians are brutalized by uniformed officers is higher in America than it is Nigeria.  

I don't care where you stay - Britain, Japan, USA, Kazakhstan, Germany, Italy, France. . . . .  you all need to face your own problems in those countries and stop bashing my beloved country.  You all go and bad mouth those places and leave my Nigeria alone.  If you can't solve the problem shut the hell up!

God bless Fahiola.
See his response to the saga. he has promised to provide legal services free of charge.

Brutality: Lagos offers free legal service to Okere
Written by Olasunkanmi Akoni & Kingsley Omonobi
Friday, November 7, 2008

Page 1 of 2
*As Navy sets up Board of Inquiry

THE Lagos State Government has offered legal assistance to Miss Uzoma Okere in getting justice following her battering on November 3, by security aides of a naval officer on Victoria Island, Lagos

The Nigerian Navy has also instituted a Board of Inquiry into the incident which has provoked indignation at home and abroad.

Miss Okere was severely beaten and almost stripped naked by the security aides for allegedly not making way for Rear Admiral Harry Arogundade’s convoy in traffic.

However, Governor Babatunde Fashola at an audience with the victim in his Ikeja office yesterday said: “Even though this is not an act of the Lagos State government, I will first of all apologise to you.

Those of us who exercise authority in the state who owe it a responsibility to protect you have actually turned against you. I am sorry.“This matter has been brought to my attention by e-mails, well placed on the internet on what took place. I can assure you that our democracy will protect you, you will get justice.

“I have summoned the Solicitor-General of the state and Head of Office of Public Defender, they will go out with you, they will continue to advise you.

Whatever legal assistance you will require, the state government will provide it for you. I will make representation to his Excellency, Mr. President and all the reports I get from the Ministry of Justice, I will pass it to him. I am sure that he will do justice to it.”

The governor who noted that though the wheel of justice might turn slowly, pledged that “this one will be different. I don’t think that any act of provocation could have justified what I have seen and of course we need to hear from the other side on what happened.”

Fashola urged her to remain law-abiding, adding that the state would assist in footing her medical bills.

“This is not what our country represents for her citizens. I am sorry,” he said. Earlier, Okere who was apparently still in shock and pain had narrated her ordeal to the governor, saying the officer whose orderlies’ beat her did not show any sign of remorse but said she could have been killed.

Vanguard gathered yesterday that the Naval authorities in Abuja had set up a Board of Inquiry (BoI) to investigate the incident and if necessary, mete appropriate punishment to those found culpable.


Navy sets up Board of Inquiry, defends Arogundade


Speaking when Vanguard contacted him on the issue, Director of Naval Information, Commodore David Nabaida said: “We have set up machinery to fully investigate the matter. A board of inquiry with the naval police involved is looking into the matter.

He gave the navy account of the incident: “What really happened is that there was a traffic problem usually associated with Lagos and the escorts of the Admiral jumped down to go clear the traffic in front. Along the way, a rating used his whip to hit the car, urging the lady to move.

“Instead, she jumped out of her car, switched it off, and forcefully took the whip from him (rating), telling him that we are in a democracy, that he (rating) had no right to hit her car.

A colleague of the rating then followed the lady and collected the whip from her. When the Admiral learnt that there was altercation between a lady and a rating in front, he asked that the lady be brought to him.

“She resisted and in the process of taking her to the Admiral, her shirt got torn. When the Admiral asked her what happened, she owned up to forcefully taking the whip from the rating and apologised for the behaviour, saying she was stressed up, that was why she behaved that way,” he said.

He said the Admiral later got to know that the father of the lady, Colonel Okere (rtd), who is the Sergeant-at-arms in the Senate, was two years his senior at the Nigerian Military School (NMS), and they both spoke during which Okere apologised for the conduct of his daughter.

Commodore Nabaida said: “That does not mean we would let it die like that. In Lagos area where the incident happened, the Flag Officer Commanding is looking into the matter. The fact that we didn’t say anything before now is because we needed to know what happened. It is not that we are covering anybody or that somebody is above the law. We don’t condone our boys beating up anybody or harassing anybody.

“We are very sensitive to how the public perceive us as a service. The general thrust of the armed forces is centred on building public confidence. We cannot be seen to be doing this and go against it. Individuals should be held accountable for their actions.

“It is wrong for anybody to assume that the Navy is lawless or they go about beating people. The impression was wrongly given that Admiral Arogundade was part of the altercation whereas he is a complete gentleman an amiable officer who even sought to resolve the matter as an elder.

“It (incident) should not be used as a basis to run a complete service down. This is a service where officers and men are deployed to very dangerous trouble spots, dying to protect the territorial integrity of the nation.

In fact, if you know the casualty the Navy has suffered this year alone in the Niger Delta, you will appreciate what I am talking about. So, for anybody to say the Navy is lawless or we are wasting tax payers money is way off the mark because we also pay taxes. So, Nigerians should learn not to jump to conclusions without hearing the other side,” he said.

The great thing is,the lady didn't go home and lick her wounds. She sought justice for herself. Be it police,navy,army,politician, no one has the right to treat you like an animal. If more and more people don't stand for it,they'll make scapegoats of the rotten eggs. Pretty soon, fear of the conseqences and public exposure will deter these psychotic creeps in uniform.

Negro_Ntns:

Did you all see what i_Laugh said at the top?  I wonder how many of us in here read and digest information before shooting opinions.

It is unlawful and inhumane to treat anybody the way the woman was treated but the problem should not be used as a rallying point to demonize Nigeria, it happens everywhere.  The rate of such brutalities, per thousand of population head, where civilians are brutalized by uniformed officers is higher in America than it is Nigeria.  

I don't care where you stay - Britain, Japan, USA, Kazakhstan, Germany, Italy, France. . . . .  you all need to face your own problems in those countries and stop bashing my beloved country.  You all go and bad mouth those places and leave my Nigeria alone.  If you can't solve the problem shut the hell up!

, if u ve nothing 2 say, shut d hell up, ur post is sickning,
, such injustice has never and will never happen in a developed country like usa an uk, i'm sure u dint think b4 u wrote,
no 1 said anytin about nigeria bin bad, the video speaks 4 nigeria, after seeing this video it is easy 4 alot of people 2 b EMBERASSED,DISCOURAGED,ASHAMED 2 b called naijas,
in ur view it is normal, so we should keep living in hell, cos sum of us r cowards,
obvious u r, a lady was treated like dat and s best thing u can rite is dat, mehn, u r equall 2 d naval officers,
naija 4 life, that y i want change,
and d change starts wen we knw our rights and can fight 4 justice,

so if she was some faceless person without a parent in the system this would have gone unnoticed by the government? and we want our bright nigerians abroad to come back abi?

This is the greatest shameful act of the century
THE SO CALLED NAVAL OFFICER AND HIS MEN ARE NOT DECENT AND DISCIPLINED
LIKE BOSS LIKE FOLLOW FOLLOW
DISMISS THEM ALL WITHOUT BENEFITS
PAY THE WOMAN COMPENSATION
SHAME ON THEM ALL FOR BEATING AN ORDINARY CITIZEN
SHAME ON THEM FOR WEARING OUR UNIFORM
THEY ARE ALL THE SAME POLICE ARMY NAVY ETC
THE MOMENT THEY WEAR UNIFORM THEY SEE IT AS PASSPORT TO HELL

Negro_Ntns:

Did you all see what i_Laugh said at the top?  I wonder how many of us in here read and digest information before shooting opinions.

It is unlawful and inhumane to treat anybody the way the woman was treated but the problem should not be used as a rallying point to demonize Nigeria, it happens everywhere.  The rate of such brutalities, per thousand of population head, where civilians are brutalized by uniformed officers is higher in America than it is Nigeria.  

I don't care where you stay - Britain, Japan, USA, Kazakhstan, Germany, Italy, France. . . . .  you all need to face your own problems in those countries and stop bashing my beloved country.  You all go and bad mouth those places and leave my Nigeria alone.  If you can't solve the problem shut the hell up!

Frankly speaking I am disappointed in your comments, no offence intended. We all know Nigeria is a place where issues like this would have been swept under the carpets. Thank God for digital cameras. This is not a matter of trying to stigmatize the nation since Nigeria has already done that already. I believe a lot of noise have to be made on this issue, otherwise justice wouldn't be forthcoming. For how long would miscreants be let to roam freely without justice, all in the name of "stop washing our dirty linens in public or the usual sigh of that's Nigeria for you". These countries you mentioned would rarely turn a blind eye to this kind of injustice. Americans for example are very critical of their government.  The fact that crime occurs everywhere does not mean WE should walk like a lamb to the slaughter.  You can call it bad mouthing but I call it  attending to an issue that is long overdue!!!

if u ve nothing 2 say, shut d hell up, ur post is sickning,
, such injustice has never and will never happen in a developed country like usa an uk, i'm sure u dint think before u wrote,

Really?  In USA police do not brutalize and even pump bullets into innocent people?

no 1 said anytin about nigeria bin bad, the video speaks 4 nigeria, after seeing this video it is easy 4 alot of people 2 b EMBERASSED,DISCOURAGED,ASHAMED 2 b called naijas,

Point of correction; Embarassed, discouraged and ashamed for HUMANITY!

in ur view it is normal, so we should keep living in hell, because sum of us r cowards,
obvious u r, a lady was treated like that and s best thing u can rite is that, mehn, u r equall to the naval officers,
naija 4 life, that y i want change,
and d change starts when we knw our rights and can fight 4 justice

Another point of correction; Change starts when you LIVE your right and EXERCISE ACCOUNTABILITY.

Kreamiedol,

You are a buffon!  Come back when you get it right.  Stop the slogan and practice the ideal.

Frankly speaking I am disappointed in your comments, no offence intended. We all know Nigeria is a place where issues like this would have been swept under the carpets. Thank God for digital cameras. This is not a matter of trying to stigmatize the nation since Nigeria has already done that already. I believe a lot of noise have to be made on this issue, otherwise justice wouldn't be forthcoming. For how long would miscreants be let to roam freely without justice, all in the name of "stop washing our dirty linens in public or the usual sigh of that's Nigeria for you". These countries you mentioned would rarely turn a blind eye to this kind of injustice. Americans for example are very critical of their government. The fact that crime occurs everywhere does not mean WE should walk like a lamb to the slaughter. You can call it bad mouthing but I call it attending to an issue that is long overdue!!!

Stillwater, in which country do you live?

Why do you ask?

So I can better respond to your dissapointment in me.

Negro_Ntns:



Really?  In USA police do not brutalize and even pump bullets into innocent people?
 

Point of correction; Embarassed, discouraged and ashamed for HUMANITY!

Another point of correction; Change starts when you LIVE your right and EXERCISE ACCOUNTABILITY.

Kreamiedol,

You are a buffon!  Come back when you get it right.  Stop the slogan and practice the ideal.

broda ode, wat r u saying?, eiither ways wat dey did was wrong,
and tank God 4 camera fones,if not we wont hear,
now dat we ve heard,we shouldnt just fold our arms, we should do sumtin,about it,
plus i aint no buffon, and it take 1 buffon 2 know d other, if u knw wat i mean

Negro_Ntns:

So I can better respond to your dissapointment in me.

Have it in mind I did not mean to offend with that statement. I stay in the US. However . . .

stillwater:

The fact that crime occurs everywhere does not mean WE should walk like a lamb to the slaughter. You can call it bad mouthing but I call it attending to an issue that is long overdue!!!

ZOMBIE
ZOMBIE NO GO BEAT UNLESS U TELL AM TO BEAT
ZOMBIE NO GO STOP UNLESS U TELL AM TO STOP
ZOMBIE NO GO REALISE THEIR MISTAKES UNLESS U SEND THEM TO JAIL
ZOMBIE GO DO THAT AGAIN UNLESS U SEND THEM TO JAIL
ZOMBIE NO GO RESPECT CIVILIANS UNLESS DEY PAY
ZOMBIE NO GET SENSE
ZOMBIE NO GET SHAME
ZOMBIE NO GET RESPECT FOR SELF SO CANT RESPECT
ZOMBIE NO GO WISE UNLESS U RETIRE THEM WITHOUT PAY
ZOMBIE GO SIT INSIDE CAR IM BOYS DEY BEAT

did i read some where that this girl called her dad who then called this officer on the phone before the non sense stopped.i don't want to offend nobody. i have said it before and will say it again Nigeria is a lawless society. these fools were recruited from amongst Nigerians. i have seen more worse beatings by police in the last 5 yrs of going to naija than this. this girl only happened to be privileged.

rafcrown:

ZOMBIE
ZOMBIE NO GO BEAT UNLESS U TELL AM TO BEAT
ZOMBIE NO GO STOP UNLESS U TELL AM TO STOP
ZOMBIE NO GO REALISE THEIR MISTAKES UNLESS U SEND THEM TO JAIL
ZOMBIE GO DO THAT AGAIN UNLESS U SEND THEM TO JAIL
ZOMBIE NO GO RESPECT CIVILIANS UNLESS DEY PAY
ZOMBIE NO GET SENSE
ZOMBIE NO GET SHAME
ZOMBIE NO GET RESPECT FOR SELF SO can't RESPECT
ZOMBIE NO GO WISE UNLESS U RETIRE THEM WITHOUT PAY
ZOMBIE GO SIT INSIDE CAR I'm BOYS DEY BEAT

all of dem na Zombie

Stillwater,

There is much to the condemnation of Nigeria than just the social impact of what happened to the lady.  A lot of Nigerians have a glamourized view of European countries and America.  To them Nigeria is a sorry land and its people are bad.  From their unglorified thrones in capital cities in Europe and America these idiots fail to see that humanity generally need to evolve and improve our social contact skills and kindness to one another.  It is not a American problem or a European problem or a Nigerian problem, it is a global problem.

I live in US and when a black person is brutalized and killed or unfairly sent to prison for a crime he has not commited you don't hear it on our forum boards and if it appears it is a silent criticism and the buffons cower and shiver in their skin cautious not to over criticize and be deported from their host country.  Justice should be demanded on account of humanity, not on the background of Nationality.  

When Sean Bell was murdered few months ago how many Nigerians went on the outcry and condemned USA?

When the police officers that killed him were set free, how many Nigerians condemned USA?  

There was a 5yr old boy in Florida some years back that was tasered, how many of us went on an outcry and condemned the Florida government?

Stillwater, do you get my point?   If its not good in Nigeria for a innocent citizen to be treated the way this lady was treated, then it is not good in USA for any person to be brutalized, much more murdered in cold blood.  Everyday on CNN you see a iReporter clip of someone getting victimized by police and yet you never hear any outcry from these USA worshippers who are quick to condemn their own fatherland.

Negro_Ntns,

i like you man, God bless you!

Negro_Ntns:

Stillwater,

There is much to the condemnation of Nigeria than just the social impact of what happened to the lady.  A lot of Nigerians have a glamourized view of European countries and America.  To them Nigeria is a sorry land and its people are bad.  From their unglorified thrones in capital cities in Europe and America these idiots fail to see that humanity generally need to evolve and improve our social contact skills and kindness to one another.  It is not a American problem or a European problem or a Nigerian problem, it is a global problem.

I live in US and when a black person is brutalized and killed or unfairly sent to prison for a crime he has not commited you don't hear it on our forum boards and if it appears it is a silent criticism and the buffons cower and shiver in their skin cautious not to over criticize and be deported from their host country.  Justice should be demanded on account of humanity, not on the background of Nationality.  

When Sean Bell was murdered few months ago how many Nigerians went on the outcry and condemned USA?

When the police officers that killed him were set free, how many Nigerians condemned USA?  

There was a 5yr old boy in Florida some years back that was tasered, how many of us went on an outcry and condemned the Florida government?

Stillwater, do you get my point?   If its not good in Nigeria for a innocent citizen to be treated the way this lady was treated, then it is not good in USA for any person to be brutalized, much more murdered in cold blood.  Everyday on CNN you see a iReporter clip of someone getting victimized by police and yet you never hear any outcry from these USA worshippers who are quick to condemn their own fatherland.

people like you are the reason nigeria as a place will never change. why would a nigerian forum be more concerned about happenings in america than nigeria?

Sylve, Thanks. I like to shut people up who are idiotic in their perspective.

people like you are the reason nigeria as a place will never change. why would a nigerian forum be more concerned about happenings in america than nigeria?

JJ,

I have news for you - we just did with Obama! Unless you want to tell me that Obama was running for Presidency in Nigeria.