BENIN CITY-Heavily armed soldiers yesterday invaded Edo State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Ezoti Street, as they descended on officials of Committee on War Against Indiscipline (WAI) for daring to arrest a couple alleged to have contravened traffic rules.
The soldiers having beaten mercilessly the WAI officials, stormed the premises of Edo State Magistrate court, Evbuoriaria, Sapele road where they foiled an attempt by WAI officials to arraign the alleged traffic offenders.
The soldiers took the said offenders away from the court premises.
Our reporter gathered that the couple in Mitsubishi car with registration number EDO, BEN 451 FH allegedly beat traffic light by Airport road forcing operatives of WAI to impound the vehicle.
The woman who drove the car promptly made a call through to someone as the soldiers appeared from the blue.
Investigations revealed that the military men were attached to an expatriate with Stretaco Construction Company, Benin City.
Chairman of the Edo State Committee on War Against Indiscipline Mr David Olukoga said two officers of his agency including an elderly man have been hospitalized following the soldiers attack.
“In less than 10 minutes, an Army van pulled up with about seven military men and they started beating everybody on sight, injured all the workers and tried to remove the impounded vehicle but they could not until rescue came.
“They (soldiers) are from Stretch, action must be taken against this particular issue…..” Olukoga stated.
Commenting on the gangsterism and impunity, the spokesman, 4brigade Command, GRA, Benin City Captain Jonah Unuakhalu said the Army is making internal arrangements to identify and discipline the officers.
Meanwhile, a Chief Magistrate who described the action of the soldiers as shameful said that a petition would be written to appreciate authorities.
