Couple Assaulted for ‘Overtaking’ Soldier’s Vehicle, Demand Dismissal of the Brutal Army General and ₦150 Million Compensation

A viral video has surfaced online showing a Nigerian Army Major General, G.S. Mohammed, and his aide, Corporal A. Abubakar, assaulting a couple in Abuja. The couple, Mr Vershima Mker and Ms Lami Jennifer Iorvihi were attacked after they allegedly overtook the soldiers’ vehicle on 3rd Avenue, Gwarinpa.

The footage, shared by Arise TV journalist Oseni Rufai, shows Mker anxiously asking the soldiers, “How did I pass your car?” Following this, the soldiers hit Mker repeatedly while his partner screamed for help. He eventually removed his seatbelt and followed the soldiers to their far-away vehicle. There, one of the soldiers slapped him across the face.

When a soldier noticed Iorvihi was recording the scene, he aggressively demanded her phone. After the assault, the couple were allegedly handcuffed, shoved into a vehicle’s trunk, and taken to Gwarinpa Police Station, where the Major General allegedly ordered their indefinite detention.

In a petition filed through Tom Uja & Co. on November 11, the couple demanded the immediate dismissal of Major General Mohammed and Corporal Abubakar. They are also seeking ₦150 million in compensation. The couple accused the soldiers of brutalising them and detaining them for eight hours until they were forced to write an apology under duress.

According to the petition, the couple visited relatives in Gwarinpa to prepare for their wedding. They said they had moved aside to allow the Major General’s convoy to pass but were blocked and assaulted. The document added that the soldiers inflicted severe physical injuries on Mker and psychological trauma on both victims.

Speaking to SaharaReporters on Tuesday, November 18, Army spokesperson Major General Onyema Nwachukwu confirmed being aware of the incident.

The Chief of Army Staff has directed investigation into the matter. But we have not been able to ascertain the veracity of the video now because we were not privileged or privy to the incident that led to the altercation, he stated despite the obvious proofs.

The couple’s petition warns that if their demands are not met by November 18, 2024, they will not only release the video on social media but also take further legal action.

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