Ilesa Residents Bemoan Military Brutality During Curfew

By Solomon Odeniyi

Some residents of Ilesa have expressed dissatisfaction with the actions of the officers of Nigerian Army, who were enforcing the 24-hour curfew imposed by the State Government of Osun.

They accused military officials of harassing and beating some of them up during the period.
Governor Adegboyega Oyetola had last Saturday imposed the 24- hour curfew to restore peace and order, following the massive looting of public and private properties by some people across many parts of the state.

However, the military personnel enforcing the curfew were said to have been punishing erring residents of Ilesa, by asking them to swim inside the mud, lie face-down and face the sun, kneel down, while some others were beaten.

Many of the victims, who for the fear of being reprimanded did not give their names, accused the military men of highhandedness.

They said the soldiers beat and subjected them to various unpleasant punitive treatments.
One of them, a resident of Oke Omiru, said he had harrowing experience while he was held by soldiers.

He said: “Soldiers were beating up people and many of us are still nursing the injuries days after the beating. The short time I spent with the soldiers is not a good experience. I was beaten and later made to keep vigil with them.”

Similarly, the men of the Nigerian Air Force, in videos obtained by OSUN DEFENDER, were seen flogging some residents of the area for allegedly violating the imposed curfew.

The curfew defaulters were made to roll inside mud, while the beating lasted.

However, the Nigerian Air Force on Wednesday said it had identified and arrested officials caught on tape flogging the erring Ilesa residents.

In a series of tweets titled, ‘Alleged flogging of curfew defaulters in Ilesa, Osun State’, NAF stated that appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken on the officers, if found culpable after investigations.

NAF tweeted: “The attention of @NigAirForce has been drawn to a video showing some personnel flogging/meting out corporal punishments on suspected hoodlums involved in criminal activities during the imposed curfew in Ilesa.

“We wish to inform the general public that @NigAirForce has identified all the personnel involved in the incident & placed them on close arrest, while investigations to determine their level of culpability have commenced, after which appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken.

“@NigAirForce, as a professional and disciplined force, does not condone such irresponsible acts & has zero tolerance for human rights violations, in whatever guise, even against suspected criminals; as all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

“The acts depicted in the video are at variance with our core values, as we place high premium on the rights of citizens. We wish to reassure that our personnel have been directed on professional conduct to ensure security, whilst remaining accountable to the Nigerian people.”