The Nigerian Army has detained one of its personnel, Private Christopher Emmanuel, following a disturbing case of assault on a female food vendor in Benue State. The soldier reportedly brutalised the woman after she demanded payment for a meal worth N2,400 he had consumed weeks earlier.
The incident, which occurred on May 6, 2025, in Kula village, Gwer West Local Government Area, was brought to the attention of military authorities two days later, prompting swift internal action. The Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 401 Special Forces Brigade, Makurdi, Captain Abdullahi Lawal Osabo, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to the statement, the accused soldier, Private Emmanuel, attached to Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS), is currently in custody while a thorough investigation is being carried out.
Public outrage erupted after a gender rights activist, Ukan Kurugh, shared a detailed petition and graphic images of the injured victim on Facebook, addressed to the Chief of Army Staff. The woman, identified simply as Doshima, runs a modest local food business—commonly referred to as “mama put”—near a temporary military camp in Kula village.
Kurugh’s petition painted a horrifying picture of abuse and impunity. He wrote:
> “After consuming food worth N2,400 on credit and refusing to pay for weeks, the soldier was politely approached by the vendor. Instead of settling the debt, Private Emmanuel returned wielding a large stick. In a humiliating display of dominance, he threw naira notes on the ground and commanded the woman to pick them up. As she bent down, he unleashed a savage beating, leaving her with visible bruises and trauma.”
The soldier reportedly justified his inhumane action by accusing the woman of being rude and claimed she needed to be “taught a lesson,” asserting she wasn’t the first to serve soldiers in the area.
Kurugh described the assault as “a flagrant abuse of military power” and an insult to the dignity of a citizen trying to earn an honest living.
He further contextualized the incident within the broader insecurity plaguing Gwer West:
> “This is a community already traumatised by deadly herdsmen attacks. The military was deployed to bring peace—not to compound the people’s pain. Now, instead of protection, we’re witnessing intimidation and brutality.”
In a renewed post on May 10, the activist escalated his call for justice by tagging the Chief of Defence Staff and the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission. He urged the Army to:
Ensure a full, impartial investigation;
Prosecute the soldier in accordance with both military and civil laws;
Guarantee medical care and adequate compensation for the victim;
Reaffirm the Army’s commitment to protecting human rights and maintaining respectful civil-military relations.
Captain Osabo, responding to the growing outcry, stated:
> “Private Christopher Emmanuel is currently in custody. A thorough investigation is underway. The Nigerian Army maintains a zero-tolerance policy for human rights violations, and disciplinary action will follow based on the investigation’s findings.”
He assured the public that the Army remains steadfast in upholding its professional standards:
> “The leadership of the Nigerian Army assures the general public and the victim that justice will be served in line with the military’s core values of honour and accountability. Operation WHIRL STROKE condemns in totality any form of indiscipline or abuse.”
The Army also encouraged Nigerians to utilise its Human Rights Desk helpline to report similar incidents instead of relying solely on social media, promising that all complaints would be treated with the utmost seriousness.
As the investigation unfolds, many are watching closely to see whether the military will uphold its promises and ensure that this case serves as a deterrent against future abuse of power by armed personnel in civilian communities.
PIONEER NEWS 