FLASHBACK: Exactly one year ago, soldiers brutalised a civilian in Mararaba… and they got away with it!

How soon time flies! It is now exactly one year since Daily Trust famously photographed soldiers brutalising a civilian at Mararaba, near Abuja.

The citizen, whom the army claimed was a robber, was stripped naked and brutalised in public on the busy Mararaba road.

Although the incident itself occurred on Saturday August 8, 2015 — just one day after Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, vowed to a delegation from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) that there would be no violation of citizens’ rights under his watch.

The newspaper published it on Monday August 10, 2015.

Millions of Nigerians were enraged, but for different reasons. While majority of the public marvelled at the brazen misuse of military might, the army was miffed that by publishing the photograph, the media had done an “incalculable damage to the image of the service”.

Sani Usman, spokesman of the army, had said: “The attention of Nigerian army has been drawn to a front-page photograph of some soldiers maltreating a suspected robber at Mararaba, Nasarawa state, on the front page of today’s edition of Daily Trust newspaper.

“Sadly, it is also trending on the social media. There is no doubt the photograph has done incalculable damage to the image of the service. The act was unfortunate and at variance with military ethics and professionalism.

“The Nigerian army wishes to inform the public that the perpetrators of the offence have been identified, summoned and would face disciplinary action.”

Usman also had some unkind words for the paper, saying: “The army has also reached out to the management of the newspaper over this poor and worrisome editorial judgement by giving this misdemeanour prominence in their paper. Alerting appropriate Nigerian army authorities would have been a better option that will be met with prompt response.

‘PROMISE AND FAIL’

The army promised to deal with the soldiers in question. In fact, it vowed to heed the request of NHRC for the soldiers to be turned in.

“The Nigeria army wishes to inform the public that the perpetrators of the offence have been identified, summoned and would face disciplinary action. We wish to assure the public that the Nigerian army would continue to protect and respect human rights and that this regrettable incidence should not be used as a yardstick to judge the entire Army,” Usman said.

“The Nigerian army is aware of the demand by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) requesting for the release of soldiers involved in the unfortunate incident of ill treatment of robbery suspected as shown on the front page of today’s Daily Trust.

“I wish to inform the commission and the public that all those involved would be released to the NHRC after carrying out our investigation in accordance with our regulations.”

NOTHING FOR NHRC

Twelve weeks after the incident, TheCable made attempts to confirm if the soldiers had been handed over to the NHRC. An official of the commission confirmed that it hadn’t happened.

“We are still investigating the incident side alongside the army,” he said back then. “They told us they had identified the perpetrators, and that they would hand them over to us when they finish investigation. But that has not happened.”

When he spoke with TheCable back then, too, Usman said the matter was being blown out of proportion.

‎”The whole issue was blown out of proportion,” he said. “Yes, the soldiers have been charged and given appropriate punishment. We should not be over-flogging an issue that has been overtaken by time and event.”

NOTHING FOREVER

It is unclear what Usman means by the soldiers receiving “appropriate punishment”, as independent findings by TheCable landed no proof of punishment.

Despite all the noise that was made at the time, it is now clear that the soldiers who committed the indiscretion have gone scot-free — FOREVER!