An odd melancholy has lingered on through my mind tonight, an untold sadness that strikes the very cords of my lowest points, Fela's ringing voice keeps resounding in my mind "they leave Sorrow, tears and blood, their regular trade mark"

This is about the Nigerian army and the intimidation the ordinary citizens suffer in the hands on these bullies in camouflage uniform.

On my way back home from work tonight, a scenerio that i believe is a common sight through out Nigeria played out right before me.

The bustling busy roads of Abakpa in Enugu state was ever active as it usually is as of the time of the night i am putting this down, commuter buses litering every angle with the conductors searching for potential passengers.

There was a slight traffic jam at the bus stop due to these activities then a toyota jeep with the driver barking authoratively at the bus drivers to get out of the way for him to pass came into the scene.

After a little delay the driver taxied his bus to the side of the road unknown to all, the jeep's occupants were Soldiers who already were angry the driver did not move out as fast as wanted - the jeep drove hastily to the front, parked and 3 soldiers in uniform came down making angrily towards the bus driver who on seeing them got really paranoid.

In seconds they were already holding him by the waist barking and throwing slaps on his face while he was pleading for mercy, they dragged him towards the jeep and yelled amidst the slaps for him to get into the trunk while one of them retrieved the bus driver's car key from the ignition and left the bus with the engine still humming while the also scared and disappointed passengers already were out of the bus looking on helplessly as the bus driver was slapped into the jeep trunk and off they went.

There were sighs from every angle, sad faces more so from the fact that while everyone knew that this was wrong, all were helpless to the sad event, their faces were dimmed with fear but they all had to shrug and get on with what ever it was everybody was doing - after all this already is a tradition and Nigerians are used to it.

It is a thing of sadness and of utmost disappointment that the ordinary citizen of the country are being used as specimen's for power craze men in uniform to exercise their power, it is something that portrays the depth of ethical decay in the Nigerian system.

Uniformed men somehow see the masses as their inferiors who can be trampled upon, abused and mistreated at will, somehow these uniformed men are God who are never supposed to be provoked even in the slightest sense or it comes with a very unnecessary and barbaric dire consequence.

It is a remarkable irony that in the Nigerian system, the military that is supposed to protect us are the ones killing us without any dust being raised about it.

It is an irony but in this case a very sad one, the ones that are meant to protect our rights are the ones abusing, intimidating and disregarding our basic rights as humans and citizens of the sovereign state of Nigeria.

the police that are supposed to protect our properties and money are the ones extorting us more than any criminal ever did.

Hustling transport workers are made to pay a certain amount at every police check point, illegal extortion of the masses off their hard earned money.

The police when ever they want can go into any poor part of the states, pick up random innocent youths in the street for no reason what so ever, detain them without cause and charge certain amounts for bail.

That is a criminal act, the uniformed men of Nigeria do more than the ones they are supposed to protect the citizens against.

Isn't it a ramarkable thing that we feel scared and insecure when we are in the presence of the police or military even when in actuality we are meant to feel secure and safe because they 'supposedly' are here to help, protect and serve the interest of the masses.

I thought governments are made for the people but in this case we the people are made for the government and the government is using us, abusing us, killing us, intimidating us, denying us of our rights at the same time extorting us.

This blatant abuse and infringment of our basic rights and the treatment or should i say the view by certain groups of individuals that there are Gods over the ordinary men - who are seen as opportunities to be tapped, helpless entities that can be abused at will and a means of cruel extortion for their own selfish gains.

This is a sinister play out, wronger than wrong and i believe can be stopped if the government of the high places want to.

The new mantra cum propaganda of the federal government Change begins with me should be corrected to.

- Change begins with the federal government - [stop making vague promises]
-Change begins with Nass - [You are there for the good of the people not enrich your greedy pot bellies with the national funds]
-Change begins with Army - [You are here to protect us not abuse us]
-Change begins with the police - [You are here to protect our property not steal from us]

If these basic problems the masses face are not addressed in the Nigerian system, then nothing has changed and nothing can change.

The power of the military and police over the masses should be put under the radar - the purpose behind these forces is for the collective protection of the sovereign boarder of the nation, lives and properties of the masses.

But the reality of things remain their trade mark in dealing with the masses are intimidation, abuse, sorrow, tears and blood.

Leaving broken spirits with their trails...

.

Copiously written in plain Caesar's language.
Front page material.

Couldn't agree more. Happens all the time. We have a bunch of useless thugs in uniform. They have no respect for common civilians. Then the cops are always extortin us setting up illegal check points to collect bribe every half mile.

We need to purge the monkeys out. Buhari the Comander and chief needs to bring discipline to his men under his comand while he runs mouth about us. He's head of aswell police right. The rule of law needs to be respected.

How can Cattle Rearers cone destroy farmland and private property. Aren't the police supposed to protect property. They needs to eat public grounds or go ranch cattle like everyone else does in 21st century.

Seriously I don't need to read the long story to know what you are talking about because every Nigerian knows what's up. It is well with Nigeria. Me I am tired and I think I will join those who are thinking of leaving Nigeria and Africa in general. Forgive me for saying this but Is Africa cursed or something because the inhumanity going on in Africa is just too much to bear

Sooo Disheartening. this only happens in Nigeria.

Cc. lalasticlala

ValentineMary:
The idiocy keeps playing out daily and nobody is willing to do anything about it rather the govt and media covers up the story. To who's benefit

The other day because a military man was hit down by a BRT bus in Lagos, military men were seen burning down buses, beating up pedestrians and smashing the phones and devices of whoever videoed the situation. And later in the day, the media lied that it was hoodlums but the military has it under control. Thank goodness for a few video clips that leaked. Yet nothing was done to punish the military.

Even our political leaders are not left out. Try obstructing their chains of cars in motion and receive the beating of ur life.

Nigeria is a sad entity managed by the least worthy people possible.

Another was featured on FP where a soldier removed the keys of a bus while on motion because the driver did not stop where he wanted to stop. Will people talk? The intimidation and abuse of military power is much and anyone who talks is termed a hater.

Johnydon22, this is apt. I recall a certain Onyeka Nwelue who was beaten by the military somewhere in Abuja and almost lost an eye for daring to stand up for a woman who was being manhandled by the same military.

Lalasticlala, this needs to be featured on FP.

UchihaFeraz:
Another was featured on FP where a soldier removed the keys of a bus while on motion because the driver did not stop where he wanted to stop. Will people talk? The intimidation and abuse of military power is much and anyone who talks is termed a hater.

Johnydon22, this is apt. I recall a certain Onyeka Nwelue who was beaten by the military somewhere in Abuja and almost lost an eye for daring to stand up for a woman who was being manhandled by the same military.

Lalasticlala, this needs to be featured on FP.

Thank baba nigerians always overlook the truth

Nobody can talk for the people again .

BankeSmalls:
Nobody can talk for the people again .

if we are to remain silent we'd be guilty of complicity. we should say as much as we must and posterity will judge us correctly

The Nigerian Army are a bunch of thugs in uniform who terrorise civilians daily, everybody knows this. There culture of human rights abuse and impunity is synonymous with the failed state of Nigeria. Military brutality in Nigeria will never stop in Nigeria because it is one of the ways the elite use in intimidating the masses.

Military Brutality will only end when Nigeria disintegrates and the different countries re-orientate their armed force and pass strong anti-brutality laws that does not exempt anyone

johnydon22:


if we are to remain silent we'd be guilty of complicity. we should say as much as we must and posterity will judge us correctly

IPOB talked, and you know what happened. Every nigerian stood by while they were killed, who will talk now?

Don't you guys know that the Nigger Army is only there for one reason-to keep the status quo the same so that Queen Eliza and her societies can continue to rule and reap una?

They have fought any war, they dont have any professional institutes or mindset, they have quacks they call Major General this and that, and only can fight unarmed civilians well.

England put us together, as did Europeans in Africa, and they have armed a small bunch of thugs that they call Nigerian Army, Sierra Leone Army, etc, and allow men from those ranks to become President and Head of state day in day out.


OPEN YOUR EYES to the manipulation

johnydon22:


if we are to remain silent we'd be guilty of complicity. we should say as much as we must and posterity will judge us correctly

Of course but what she's saying is once anyone says anything against the government, the armed force is sent to intimidate the person eg Charly boy.

BankeSmalls:


IPOB talked, and you know what happened. Every nigerian stood by while they were killed, who will talk now?

Notice how the talk for restructuring has died down?

BankeSmalls:


IPOB talked, and you know what happened. Every nigerian stood by while they were killed, who will talk now?

Our democracy is tyrannical which is not democracy at all. It has even suffered more under Buhari

The Nigerian military all branches are bunch of beasts and cowards. No wonder BH keeps killing them like rats that they are but wud come to d media and hype BH casualties and downplay theirs. When they die in d hands of BH they don’t deserve an iota of sympathy cos they ve none when they descend on hapless citizens. Na dem wan come give vaccination. Thunder from Jah burn dem all

All those military wey dey form hard men for civilian body wud meet their violent waterloo.

Bunch of cowards who couldn’t even fight terrorists in Mali only went there to mount road blocks leaving hardened and seasoned desert warriors in the Chadian military to do the real dirty job.

Nigeriadondie:
The Nigerian military all branches are bunch of beasts and cowards. No wonder BH keeps killing them like rats that they are but wud come to d media and hype BH casualties and downplay theirs. When they die in d hands of BH they don’t deserve an iota of sympathy cos they ve none when they descend on hapless citizens. Na dem wan come give vaccination. Thunder from Jah burn dem all

All those military wey dey form hard men for civilian body wud meet their violent waterloo.

Bunch of cowards who couldn’t even fight terrorists in Mali only went there to mount road blocks leaving hardened and seasoned desert warriors in the Chadian military to do the real dirty job.

Its beyond sad my brother

Nigeriadondie:
The Nigerian military all branches are bunch of beasts and cowards. No wonder BH keeps killing them like rats that they are but wud come to d media and hype BH casualties and downplay theirs. When they die in d hands of BH they don’t deserve an iota of sympathy cos they ve none when they descend on hapless citizens. Na dem wan come give vaccination. Thunder from Jah burn dem all

All those military wey dey form hard men for civilian body wud meet their violent waterloo.

Bunch of cowards who couldn’t even fight terrorists in Mali only went there to mount road blocks leaving hardened and seasoned desert warriors in the Chadian military to do the real dirty job.

GBAM!