The Defence Headquarters says the incident involving some soldiers at the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company some weeks back is under review, vowing to sanction anyone found culpable.
A viral video some weeks back showed some armed men in military uniform storming the headquarters of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company at Ikeja, Lagos State, with some staff of the company seen running for safety.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Friday, Chief of Defence Civil Military Relations, Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole, acknowledged that there are some underlining issues that caused the incident, but said that what was seen in the video is not in any way the attitude of the military.
“What happened at Ikeja Disco is being viewed seriously at the Defence Headquarters and headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force. “Whatever sanctions needs to be meted would be meted out.
“But there is no tolerance for that kind, the underlining issues between the Air Force and the IKDC are being tackled,” Rear Admiral Bankole said.
He said the military has stepped up its sensitization programmes, informing the people that the military is there to protect them always. He reiterated the need for a good relationship between the military and the civilians, saying that the military needs intelligence from the people to carry out its functions.
According to Rear Admiral Bankole, there is no need for people to be scared when they see people in military uniform because they are meant to protect them.
“People should not feel scared when they see people in uniform, the men in uniform are meant to protect you. That sensitization even from the depot in Zaria, from the NDA to the NDC is there.
“The military career is a noble career, the military career is to help the society, apart from protecting the territorial integrity of the society, we are protecting humans,” he said.
He said that with the trajectory the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has set now, the military will earns its respect from the populace.
