On the Subject of Army Cadets' Brutality gone viral

Speaking on the issue of the recent video of Army's brutality that has gone viral, an event which happened on the last day of 2014, which, definitely, must have put the poor victim in a sober mood through the festivities of that year.

Even though I partly belong to the Military constituency having spent 6 years behind the walls of Command Secondary School, Jos; even though I speak about the Army with a sense of pride having benefited much, especially in area of Discipline and Knowledge, from the same; even though I now have many of my old boys as part of the military whom I have great respect for; I condemn, in its entirety, the attitude of some members of this respectable group of taking undue advantage of others especially of the civilian community. 

This is very saddening and, to say the least, shameful.

It kind of makes me wonder if this present crop of Cadets from the Defence Academy will be able to sustain the values of patriotism, dedication and dignity that the Nigerian Army is known for.

I have not said that excesses of a Bloody civilian - as they normally say - are not to be curbed sometimes; but please, let this be on justifiable grounds and in an acceptable manner. 

There is a way of the jungle, but Nigeria is not a jungle!

And for the innocent victim to have restrained himself from pressing charges, but rather appealed to the Federal Government to engage our Men-at-arms in proper orientation programs before letting them loose is ironic, and highly commendable on his part. Sometimes you see maturity in a child (the victim in this case) and much stupidity being exhibited by supposedly elderly ones (the molesters in this case). 

The victim has forgiven the past, I would have done likewise. But one thing I am certain of is this: If Army means dedication and loyalty to the Fatherland; the ones I saw in the video will never make good soldiers, anyway. There are many of such cases, though, which goes on off-camera unknown, unreported and unattended to. It is consoling to know that the Army has taken this one up.

To this end, I therefore add my voice to that of the victim and to that of all well-meaning Nigerians, that the Army should take seriously the appeal of re-enforcing discipline among its ranks, and also strengthen its recruitment and enlistment process such that only the ones loyal to the call and to the Nation make it to the finals; and not some power-drunk injukas whose ultimate aim of joining the military is to wear the uniform.

Truth is there is more to being a soldier than being kitted up in a cute, heavily-starched, finely-ironed Khaki; a shiny black boot; and a well-fitted green beret or whichever as the case may be!