In the 26-second long video, two unidentified soldiers could
be seen swearing at the people of Warri and promising them a tormenting
experience for daring to take the life of their colleague.
There is currently panic in some sections of Warri, Delta
State, after some Nigerian Army personnel seen in a trending video threatened
to rape and infect women with HIV in the city over the alleged killing of their
colleague by residents.
In the 26-second long video, two unidentified soldiers could
be seen swearing at the people of Warri and promising them a tormenting
experience for daring to take the life of their colleague.
Speaking in disjointed Pidgin, one of the soldiers said,
“Warri people, una don buy job o. Una kill soldier ba? Your mothers, I will
make sure I f..k your mothers skin to skin without condom.
“I will make sure she carry HIV, your daughters will carry
HIV, your wives will carry HIV.
"You get mind to kill soldier ba? Dan ubanku.”
Following the development, residents, mostly women, are said
to be currently in panic especially after soldiers killed a young man named
Joseph Pessu on Thursday in the area for driving on the road during a
stay-at-home order given by the state government in a bid to curtail the spread
of Coronavirus in the country.
Pessu’s killing led to protest by angry residents of
Ugbuwangue, a suburb of Warri, who blocked major roads and burnt tyres to
express their pain.
ut shortly after the incident, some soldiers claimed that
the people killed one of their colleagues.
Reacting to the threat by the soldiers, a resident of Warri,
Evelyn Uware, told SaharaReporters that she had concluded plans to move to
another part of the city for safety reasons.
She said, “I have seen the video, many people have seen it
too and we are not taking it like a joke.
“My women are already panicky, I am too, and that is why I
am going to move to another area of Warri just to be safe.
“I will return to my house when the soldiers enforcing the
stay-at-home order have been removed from the road.”
Another resident of the city, Efe Omokinovo, said that he
and other young men around their community will meet to strategise on how to
protect themselves and women.
He said, “The video is being talked about in Warri and
causing panic. We cannot abandon our homes because of people who are supposed
to be protecting us but now threatening us.
“Young men are discussing already, we will find every means
to protect our community and women from rapists and murderers.”
Nigerian social media users have also been reacting to the
threat by the soldiers.
On Facebook, one KO Kalu, said, “The level of
unprofessionalism and indiscipline in the Nigerian Army is so absurd.
“Such abominable and unprintable words and serious threats
to life coming from a soldier against the people he has sworn to protect.
“This video should be a serious embarrassment and shame to
the Army Headquarters.”
On her part, Constance Omo, said, “This is getting serious,
the soldiers in Warri need to be recalled and taken off the streets for now. I
perceive war and more violence if nothing is done.”
A user with the name Kene Obiezu, while reacting to the
threat by the soldiers, said, “Absolutely shocking.
“But let those who know them tell them that never again
would we tolerate the level of impunity they treated the country with especially
under different military regime and on some of their utterly shameful escapades
since we returned to democracy.
“We remember Odi, Zaki Biam and Zaria and we will fight
back.”
Adding his voice to the matter, Otevia Andy Godson, said,
“He has HIV! Wow! If those in authority don't act fast, these guys will make
good their threat.
“We respect our law enforcement officers only because of
their guns and laws and not because they deserve it. This is a shame on the
Nigerian Army.”
Several hours after the video started making the rounds on
the Internet, Nigerian Army authorities are yet to react to the situation,
further raising concerns among citizens.
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