General Diya Urges Reporting of Any Soldier Torturing Civilians Over Dreadlocks

Bridge Commander in charge of 14 Brigade Ohafia, Brigadier Gen. Olusola Diya, has urged members of the public, to report any soldier or military personnel torturing any civilian for having a dreadlock.

Brigadier Gen. Diya who stated this during the 33rd edition of the Social Media seminar, held for media practitioners and social media influencers in Aba, Abia State, explained that there is no law prohibiting people from having a dreadlock on their hair.

The Brigade Commander was responding to a question on the constitutionality of the activities of military personnel who drag down and subject commuters with dreadlock to torture at military checkpoints.

He said there was no law dictating for or prescribing a dress code for citizens, hence, it is wrong for military personnel on checkpoints to resort to enforcing nonexistent laws.

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The Brigade Commander threatened severe sanctions against any military personnel found harassing commuters at checkpoints for purportedly having dreadlock.

” Any soldier found arresting people with dreadlock will be dealt with. Once you see any soldier engaging in such unprofessional conduct, please get us his name and the checkpoint, and see what we will do.”

Brigadier Gen. Diya while also responding to another question, said that the soldiers involved in the recent alleged torture to death, of a hotel staff in Umuahia, had been arrested, and would soon be put on trial.

He apologised for the unprofessional conduct, assuring that justice will be served to all those involved in the act.

” We are genuinely sorry for that. Those soldiers involved are in guard room. They will be brought to book.”

The Brigade Commander urged media practitioners and bloggers to use the social media in reporting to military authorities the excesses of military personnel on duty.

” People should use social media to report to us any unprofessional conduct of any military personnel in uniform”.

Earlier in his address, the Director, Psychological Operations, Department of Civil-Military Affairs, Army Headquarters, Abuja, Brigadier Gen. B.S Keji, said the seminar was aimed at interfacing social media influencers and content creators, with a view to using the social media to promote peace and not crisis.

He also said it was aimed at enhancing relationship between the Nigerian Army and the civilian populace.

Brigadier Gen. Keji urged bloggers and social media influencers not to disseminate harmful contents capable of causing tension or crisis in their desperation to generate traffic.