Twenty-four years after the restoration of democracy in Nigeria, officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces still engage civilians with the dominant psyche of the military era, when they held sway unchecked. This has resulted in the physical and psychological abuse of many Nigerians, some of whom died in the process while their tormentors remain unpunished. In this report, GBENGA SALAU recalls some recent incidents of brazen disrespect for the rule of law and civil etiquette by personnel of the armed forces and highlights expert opinions on how to address the situation

Recently, the family of Assistant Superintendent of Police, Hezekiah Abiona, killed by some naval officers in December, called for justice over the murder of their breadwinner. Abiona’s offence was flagging down the naval officers and attempting to enforce traffic rules as the ratings rode against traffic on their motorcycle in the Oluti area of Amuwo-Odofin Local Council of Lagos State.

Abiona’s act got the naval officers irritated and an argument ensued between them, which led to an intense argument with the ratings, and they allegedly stabbed him in the process. Abiona later died from the injuries he sustained during the attack.

Incidents like this are very rampant across Nigeria. More than two decades after Nigeria returned to civil rule, officers of the Nigerian armed forces often engage civilians with the dominant psyche of the military era. During military rule in Nigeria, the powers of the three arms of government – the executive, legislature, and judiciary – were practically vested in the armed forces. As a result of this, officers of the armed forces were a law unto themselves in their engagement with civilians outside the barracks. They rarely had respect for the rule of law or issues that pertain to human rights.

With the restoration of democracy in the country in 1999 after long years of military rule, the general notion was that military officers would be civil in their engagement with civilians whether within or outside the barracks. This also implies that autocratic tendencies that were the norm in the military era would give way to democratic ideals. However, this has not been the case 24 years into democracy in Nigeria. Military officers are still displaying autocratic tendencies and their tyrannical inclinations reflect in their engagements with civilians and paramilitary agencies of the state almost daily.

Some weeks back, some soldiers reportedly went on a rampage, beating 12 Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials in the Costain-Apapa area of Lagos State for daring to impound a senior officer’s vehicle. The soldier, it was alleged, drove against traffic; so he was stopped and his vehicle impounded over breach of traffic rules around Ijora. It was learnt that the military officer, who felt slighted by the manner the LASTMA officers accosted him, left the scene only to return minutes after with some soldiers who went for the head of every LASTMA officer in sight. The soldiers reportedly pounced on many LASTMA officials and took them to their barracks where they were mercilessly beaten before being released.

Another recent example was the incident at the University of Benin where an army officer went into the institution’s campus to use the Automated Teller Machine (ATM). Reports had it that the officer jumped the queue of bank customers waiting to use the ATM and successfully made use of the machine. But surprisingly, he returned some minutes afterwards wanting to use the ATM with the intention of not queuing again.

Those in queue rebuffed the officer, insisting that he should join the queue but he objected, querying the effrontery of those that wanted to stop him. This led to a faceoff between him and those in the queue. The result was the gang beating of the officer by the bank customers despite being in uniform.

Also, in July 2019, some Lagos residents expressed outrage over footage showing a man dressed in military uniform, identified simply as Duru, assaulting a driver on Moloney Street in Lagos Island. In the footage, the soldier, who was alleged to have driven against traffic, was seen blocking the road and later hitting the vehicle of the motorist he assaulted.

In November 2022, some soldiers beat up a policeman and an official of LASTMA. The incident happened along Eko Bridge. The soldiers were driving against traffic when the policeman and LASTMA officer stopped their vehicle and ordered them to turn back and take the right lane. The situation became rowdy as the soldiers, who refused to turn back, reportedly pounced on the policeman and traffic officer, and physically assaulted both of them.

In March 2022, soldiers from the Nigerian Army Battalion, Ibodi, Ilesa, Osun State, battered a car dealer, Adeyinka Adekunle, to death after an argument at a pub. The deceased was allegedly forced to eat his vomit while being tortured in the barrack.

In December 2022, a Warri-based lawyer, Choice Umode, dragged the Nigerian Army together with the Commanding Officer of the 90 Amphibious Battalion, Major Ajongbo, to a Delta State High Court, Effurun in Uvwie Local Council of the state. The lawyer demanded N20 million each for the three persons allegedly arrested and detained unlawfully for over three weeks by military men attached to the Nigerian Army 90 Battalion in Koko, Warri North Local Council. The lawyer alleged that the applicants were unilaterally kept in the custody of the 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Asaba, Delta State.

In the petition, the legal practitioner claimed that the trio of Mr. Abraham Asagba, Mr. Goodluck Ikoyo, and one Mr. Igho Meeting, a worker in a dredging site owned by a businessman, were allegedly arrested by the military officers and were detained for three weeks without the order of any court of competent jurisdiction.

In May 2021, one Sanusi, who sold fruits by the roadside in Gusau, was reportedly shot by a soldier after the deceased demanded payment for goods bought from him.

There are many similar incidents of military officers acting as though they were above the law and other citizens just because they were in uniform.
Some citizens who have the contacts of soldiers often invite them to help recover money, pursue online fraud suspects, enforce dress codes, control traffic, and raid or guard private homes. When doing any of these tasks, soldiers usually carry out their duties, whether officially or unofficially, with no sense of decorum.

In 2018, for instance, an Ogun State resident, George Oyekan, was beaten to death by soldiers from the 174 Battalion Barracks, Ogijo, following the man’s dispute with his landlady over rent. Some stakeholders have argued that these kinds of interventions, especially by the Army and Navy, debase the institution and promote indiscipline.

In Lagos, many officers commuting in commercial buses find it rude if the driver or his motor boy asks them for transport fare. This is even as military officers often expect other road users to give way to them in traffic even when they are in their private cars.

Recently, the Lagos State government issued a statement warning the police, military, and other security officers against contravening traffic rules. In the statement, the Ministry of Transportation decried the rate at which military personnel, police, and other uniform men contravene the state traffic laws with impunity, noting that the law is no respecter of anybody and must be obeyed at all times.

The statement added that the state government wondered why uniform men who should be custodians of the traffic laws of the state, nay country, disobey it, stating that the government has resolved not to allow this menace to continue unchecked.

While urging all security agencies to show exemplary conduct by leading the way in obeying the traffic laws of the state, the statement added that any form of physical assault of the state traffic law enforcement officers by the erring security personnel would no longer be tolerated.

Citing an instance of unruly behavior by members of the armed forces, a resident of Lagos, Bankole Adelaja, said that his brother, Kolawole, had an issue with his girlfriend and the lady vowed to punish him for backing out of their relationship. According to him, without getting details of the misunderstanding between the two lovebirds, some naval officers invited by the lady went to his brother’s house to rough handle him, including inflicting injuries on him. “Yet, Kolawole severed relationship with the lady because of her serial infidelity, including flirting with one of the naval officers,” he alleged. Adelaja said that the way military officers operate as if they are above the law makes him wonder about the kind of training they receive.

“It is very annoying seeing someone that is not the age mate of your younger brother talking to you rudely, but you cannot raise objections because of the fear of being molested. Many of the military officers are usually crude in their engagement; only a few of them are decent in their engagement from my interactions,” Adelaja said.

Another Nigerian, Umoh Joshua, said that many incidents of military officers’ harassment of civilians go unreported in the media; hence the victims do not have an opportunity to get justice.

“So, military authorities need to do more to put their officers in check including providing room for genuine concerns by the citizens, which would have positive ripple effects. This is because if the officers know that military authorities can hear about any incidents, they would not engage in any illegal activity,” Joshua said.

Commenting, Social Mobilisation Manager, ActionAid Nigeria, Adewale Adeduntan, said that promoting a culture of civic engagement within the Nigerian armed forces requires a comprehensive approach encompassing various aspects, including leadership, training, accountability, and institutional reforms.

To foster civil behaviour and reduce impunity within the armed forces, he suggested that the new administration should emphasise ethical leadership at all levels, with senior officers setting a positive example as well as promoting values such as integrity, professionalism, and respect for human rights.

“This can be achieved through leadership training programmes that focus on ethics, human rights, and the rule of law,” he added. Adeduntan also stated that regular, comprehensive human rights education and training should be provided to all members of the armed forces.

“This training should cover international human rights standards, laws of armed conflict, and the importance of treating civilians with dignity and respect. It can help instill a sense of responsibility and accountability in soldiers and other military officials,” he added.

To combat impunity among officers of the armed forces, he stressed that it was essential to establish robust accountability mechanisms within the bodies, which include creating avenues for reporting and addressing human rights abuses, establishing independent oversight bodies, and ensuring that allegations of misconduct are thoroughly investigated.

“Perpetrators of abuses must be held accountable through fair and transparent disciplinary processes, including prosecution when necessary,” he suggested.

Adeduntan argued that the legal framework governing the conduct of armed forces should be strengthened to ensure compliance with international human rights standards.

“This may involve reviewing and revising existing laws, regulations, and military codes of conduct to explicitly prohibit abusive behaviour and protect civilian rights. Mechanisms should be in place to ensure the laws are effectively implemented and enforced.”

According to him, building positive relationships between the armed forces and the communities they serve remains crucial through encouraging community engagement programmes such as civil-military cooperation projects and outreach initiatives that could help bridge the gap between the military and civilians.

“These programmes can enhance mutual understanding, foster trust, and promote respect for civilian perspectives and needs,” Adedutan further said.He noted that ensuring that members of the armed forces receive adequate resources, proper training, equipment, and compensation were essential to bringing them in tune with civil etiquette.

“Inadequate resources and poor living conditions can contribute to frustration and misconduct. By prioritising the welfare of personnel, the chances of acting with impunity can be reduced,” he stressed.

Adedutan said that establishing independent monitoring and reporting mechanisms such as human rights commissions or ombudsman offices, could help identify and address misconduct within the armed forces. He added: “These bodies can receive complaints, conduct investigations and make recommendations for improvement.

“Nigeria can benefit from international cooperation and assistance in strengthening its armed forces. Collaboration with international organisations such as the United Nations, and regional bodies like the African Union, can provide expertise, training, and technical support to promote a culture of civic engagement and respect for human rights.

“It is important to recognise that transforming the behaviour of armed forces is a long-term process that requires sustained commitment, resources, and political will. The implementation of these measures should be part of a comprehensive strategy that involves collaboration among government agencies, civil society organisations, and the military itself.”

He advised military officers to understand their responsibilities as commanders, including their duty to prevent and address human rights abuses committed by their subordinates.

“Training officers in post-conflict situations should focus on human rights, the rule of law, and transitional justice mechanisms. This helps facilitate the transition to a stable society, rebuild trust, and ensure that past abuses are addressed through appropriate legal and accountability mechanisms,” he said.

On her part, the Chairman, of Anti-money Laundering and Counter Financing Terrorism Civil Society Organisations, Efe Anaughe, stated that it was important to sensitise and train officers of the force against impunity and lawlessness.

Anaughe, a lawyer, said that the first step would be to increase transparency and accountability within the armed forces by ensuring that there is a clear chain of command and that soldiers are answerable to their superiors.

“There should also be clear guidelines on the use of force, and soldiers should be trained in human rights. The second step is to create an independent body to investigate complaints of abuse by armed forces personnel. This body should be impartial and have the power to sanction soldiers who are found to have committed abuses,” Anaughe said.

She expressed optimism that the measures she suggested would help to stop armed forces personnel from harassing citizens and breaking the law with impunity.

“There has to be political will to implement repercussions of flouting the law for those in the force. The first step in preventing armed forces personnel from harassing citizens and breaking the law with impunity is training. Members of the force must be taught to respect the rights of others and to follow the rules of engagement.

“In addition, they must be held accountable for their actions. If someone is found to have violated the law, they should be punished accordingly.” Anaughe added that a system should be put in place to investigate complaints of abuse, so that any incident could be quickly and thoroughly investigated, with those responsible held accountable.

“Having a system in place will also help to deter future abuse, as members of the force know that there are consequences for their actions,” she added. With army personnel seemingly the biggest culprit in the brazen disrespect for the rule of law and democratic principles among the armed forces, attempts were made to get the Nigerian Army to comment on the frequent infractions by its officers during civil engagements.

However, several calls were made to the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu was not picked and neither did he return them. He also did not reply to the message sent to his WhatsApp line.