From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Brigade Commander,14 Brigade, Ohafia, Abia State Brigadier General O.O. Diya has said the Nigerian Army would not take it lightly with any of its personnel found extorting motorists in Abia State.
Brigadier General Diya who stated this when members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Aba Branch, tasked members of the Association to help report any soldier involved in the extortion of motorists and residents of Aba in particular.
The Brigade Commander said the Army doesn’t condone corruption and indiscipline and would punish any soldier found to have engaged in such activities.
Brigadier Diya assured that any soldier involved in corruption wont go scot- free.
He commended NBA Aba Branch for finding time to visit him at Ohafia to commiserate with the Army on the loss of her soldiers in Aba.
The Army chief told the NBA that security was everyone’s business and urged the branch to continue to partner with the Army in getting rid of criminals in Abia State especially Aba.
“Report any soldier involved in the extortion by getting the names of the soldiers involved and their location.
“Your members can get video and pictorial evidence of the extortion where the same is possible.
“Security is everyone’s business. I urge NBA Aba Branch to continue to partner with the Army in getting rid of criminals in Abia State, especially in Aba.”
He promised that the Army would honour any invitation extended to it by the branch.
Earlier, Chairman of NBA Aba, Charles Onuchukwu, said the branch came to commiserates with the Army and families of soldiers who lost their lives in the recent attack in Aba.
The Chairman also lamented the maltreatment of residents and motorists by soldiers, especially during the recent security challenges at the checkpoints.
Onuchukwu urged the Brigade Commander to advise soldiers at various checkpoints in Aba to devote their time to security matters and stop using civilians to extort money from motorists and residents in the city.
He assured that the NBA Aba Branch was ready to partner with the military in addressing security challenges in Aba.