Activist Omoyele Sowore attacks Nigerian Army
A famous Nigerian activist Omoyele Sowore has attacked the Nigerian Army over its occupation of the Banex Shopping Plaza, located in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital.
TheCornet reports that some persons had assaulted two unidentified soldiers last Saturday. The cause of the mayhem is yet unknown but the Nigerian Army had called for a probe into it. In its reaction to the assault, the military authorities deployed soldiers to seal off the expansive plaza.
Reacting to an army statement issued by its spokesperson, Major general Onyema Nwachukwu, Sowore condemned the continued occupation of the business premises.
“It is unheard of, even under military tile, that civilian spaces would be shut down …over a disagreement between soldiers and civilians,” Sowore commented under Nwachukwu’s post on X.
He added: The Nigerian Army should stop military men who are not on active duties from putting on uniforms, so many of these military men have been caught in (committing) heinous crimes.”
Sowore, who has earned a reputation as a political gadfly and made unsuccessful runs for the country’s presidency, also accused the Nigerian Army of committing specific human rights abuses in recent times.
However, some other X users disagreed with the activist’s comment. Hidima, Ph.D, via the handle @Realoilsheikh said: …Go and beat a soldier and see if your parent will recognize your face again. You people will be supporting all form of rubbish against constituted authorities for clout chasing.”
Badmus Uthman, @Badmus_Uthmaan, said: “Comrade you are always right but in this situation you need to shut up with all due respect.” In his own reaction, a user Unkle_Biotics (@PeterzTee) wrote: “…I’m sure you have traveled out a couple times and (is) this is how people in saner countries humiliate members of their armed forces.”
But, Obiorah Otu (@oteessolutions1) differed in his view. The X user believes that the assaulted soldiers “wanted to use their uniform as military men to take advantage of the citizens.”
“I don’t think that the common on the street is crazy enough to start attacking soldiers without any provocation,” he said.
Read Nigeria’s Army’s statement on the closure of Banex Plaza – link.
