The Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria has advised officers and members of the Nigerian Armed Forces to comport themselves within the limits of the law in order not to jeopardize the peace and security of other Nigerians. The party says that a situation where soldiers see themselves as being above the law and doing everything to enforce this erroneous impression is dangerous and is bound to breed social anarchy and violence.

In a release in Lagos , signed by the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the ACN, Joe Igbokwe, the party said a situation where soldiers will resist discipline and flout the laws and ordinances that bind every other Nigerian is a worrying dimension that has triggered violent clashes that have led to loss of lives and properties. It urges the hierarchy of the armed forces to take discipline serious and ensure that the ranks and files of the Nigerian Armed Forces are kept within the limits of the law.

“We are worried that yet another violent clash between the police and soldiers took place in Obanikoro Lagos, just some few weeks after another very bloody clash, which led to the death of several policemen in Badagry. We are even more worried that what led to this latest clash was the alleged refusal of soldiers who illegally took the BRT lane to be arrested, in accordance with the law. It should be noted that the clash led to the disruption of vehicular and human traffic on the every busy road for over three hours, which inflicted untold hardship on Lagosians as it lasted. We can only conclude that Nigerian soldiers are carrying themselves above the laws that guide and regulate every other citizen and this is a dangerous precedent the officers of the Nigerian Army must address.

“Lagos ACN believes that the law is no respecter of any person and that every individual subjects himself or herself to the law for the good of every member of the society. Soldiers, policemen and civilians as members of the society must conduct themselves within the law and that makes for an orderly and peaceful society. A situation where soldiers ride roughshod of the law and carry themselves above the law can only breed such violent clashes and serious altercations between the army and the enforcers of the law and endanger public peace and security.

“We want the officers of the Nigerian Army to carry out retraining of soldiers, especially as it concerns their roles and comportment within the democratic setting as their actions are putting tremendous pressure on the country’s democracy at present. We demand that erring soldiers, who indulge in the infraction of the law, be adequately punished so as to serve as deterrence to others. We want the officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces to keep their men in check and prevent the growing dangerous trend of soldiers provoking constant strains on the peace and security of Nigerians, especially in Lagos .”

Joe Igbokwe
Publicity Secretary,
Lagos ACN.