An overzealous soldier yesterday was arrested on guard at the Alegbor Check-point by the Nigerian Army, 3 Battalion Effurun, Delta State for violently cutting the hair of General Overseer and Founder, Tower of Faith Ministries, Rev. Felix Omas.
It was gathered that the manner in which the clergy man was humiliated, infuriated the 3 Battalion’s command who promptly arrested and detained the soldier with promise to charge him for improper conduct.
At the Warri NUJ Secretariat, the molested victim, Rev Omas narrated his ordeal almost in tears. He said, “I was driving in my SUV but due to the traffic situation, I boarded a tricycle. The soldiers stopped our Keke as we were coming from Alegbor, forcibly seated me on the ground as one of them pulled a scissors and stroke three ugly cuts on my hair, saying my hair style violates their rules.”
Omas said he was on his way to Warri with one of his colleagues when he encountered the humiliation from the army. He said he gave way to the public disgrace as the soldiers threatened to shoot him with a gun.
A top military official at the 3 Battalion who pleaded anonymity condemned the conducted of the alleged offender, confirming that he has been arrested and facing pre-trial while the Sergeant believed to have ordered the molestation of the Reverend would also be summoned for questioning.
“What he did was wrong; He said that the community asked them to cut hair of youths with weird styles, so that was why he did it. We never sent soldiers to cut people’s hair. We sent them for security of lives. The Pastor is an elderly person, he will face military discipline,” he said.
Oghenejabor Ikimi , National Coordinator, Centre for the Vulnerable and the Under Privileged, (CENTREP) reacting to the matter, described the soldiers act as “Inhuman and degrading, purnishable under Section 34 (1) of the I999 Constitution as amended.
“I will take the Army to court to enforce the Pastor’s human rights. This will serve as deterrent to other gun trotting uniform personnel who sees civilians as non-humans. No security can be done without consideration for human rights.”
Ikimi, a lawyer promised to offer free legal aid to Omas and other victims of military brutality.
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