The soldiers-brutalised-Chijioke Uraku seemed to have turned internet sensation after the video of two soldiers battering him heartlessly, went viral on the internet, attracting public pity and condemnation.

The crippled young man, an indigene of Ikwo, Ebonyi State who was days ago, subjected to the public assault by two soldiers who are now serving terms in the prisons, has since the public were strongly appealed to his condition, been receiving lots of consolation rewards both from the public and the military.

Kokun Foundation had taken the lead by showering the lad with lots of materials and cash. Not quite long, the governor of his state, David Umahi splashed him with N500k while calling for the immediate dismissal of the two callous soldiers.

Basking on the set ground and trend, Enugu and Onitsha Military Cantonment took him to the Army Barracks to appease him with cash gifts and cloth as well as recognise him as a friend of the Onitsha Military Cantonment and the Nigerian Army.

That Chijioke was well fortunate enough to draw the attention of the public to his rather case through obviously an eye-witness-good samaritan who could take cover of the incidence and spread it, there are hundreds of such assault and degredation that go on almost on a daily basis in the South East Region unheard.

The military,especially the junior officers are in the eyes of the public, real terrors they cannot but dread;ndi obi tara mmirI, as my igbo language puts it.

The mayhem the Military often unleash on innocent civilians hard-pressed hard-pressed by bad governance and the insensitivity of politicians, go by daily without anyone raising an eyebrow unless in such no-nonsense cities like, Aba, Owerri, Nnewi and Onitsha where young men with hot blood running in their veins reside. Even in those cities, the strong are kept in (deep) blue funk when the mention of soldier is heard.

To the masses, the fear of the military must be the beginning of wisdom. This notion of apprehension has cowed the people to look away when they find such aghast scenarios of military pummeling the defenseless civilians.

The government does not give any serious regard either, to such dehumanisation unless the case receives hue and cry.

My people say that "green beans is not new to the lizard (npkuruagwa n'acha grin abughi ihe ofuru nyere ngwere). This attitude of the Military is as well instilled in them as corruption is instilled in our politicians; as bribery is instilled in the police officers, the customs and other parastatals of the government.
And even if we cannot force them to change in entirety because "agadi anagi amu aka ekpe n'ula nka (the old do not learn the use of left hand at old age) we can atleast, continue forcing them to make use of their right hands well (do the right) by condemning their ignoble acts.



Obi Ugo
Freelance, Content Writer at igbobia.com
princedaviobi@gmail.com