A thorough investigation has begun over the alleged illegal detention of a Naval rating, Seaman Abbas Haruna.
The probe follows an accusation by Haruna’s wife, who claimed that the Nigerian military authorities have unjustly kept her husband in custody for nearly six years.
Speaking on a radio station in Abuja, she disclosed that her husband, a seaman in the Nigerian Navy, has been held without due process, leading to widespread concern.
Time for investigation
Reacting to the development, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said he has ordered an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding Haruna’s prolonged detention.
He assured the public that the military would continue to remain committed to upholding justice, fairness, and the rule of law.
Musa also assured the public that the outcome of the investigation would be made public in due course.
What we know
The investigation is expected to scrutinize whether proper military protocol was followed in the case of Seaman Abbas and determine if any rights have been violated.
In the same vein
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, in a statement released by his Personal Assistant on Media, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, expressed dismay over the situation, stating that no officer serving the nation should face such unjust treatment.
Matawalle assured the public that the case of Seaman Abbas Haruna would be thoroughly investigated and that the truth would be brought to light.
“Our armed forces are built on the pillars of honour, discipline, and justice. No officer should be subjected to undue hardship or wrongful treatment,” Matawalle said, emphasizing that justice will prevail in this matter.
The torture of Segun Olatunji
In a similar case in April this year, Segun Olatunji, a newspaper editor, was unlawfully arrested, detained, and tortured by the military over a report published in the FirstNews online newspaper. He was only released after media and civil society groups intervened.
Critics say that the incident highlights ongoing issues with military impunity and abuse of power.
The detention of Collins Opumie
More so earlier this year in January, a Bayelsa State High Court ordered the Department of State Security (DSS) to pay N300 million in damages over the illegal detention of Collins Opumie, a youth activist who had been held for over two years.
Opumie, who had been arrested in connection with a protest against government policies, was denied access to legal representation, medical care, and his family during his detention.
The court ruled that his detention was not only unlawful but also a violation of his fundamental human rights. Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, who presided over the case, emphasized that such practices erode public trust in law enforcement and undermine the rule of law.
