The Nigerian Army has said the joint operations in which its personnel were involved has led to a superiority clash between the troops and personnel of the Nigeria Police.

It accused personnel of the Nigeria Police Force of brutalising some of its personnel involved in the joint operations, adding that some of its men had lost their lives as a result of development.

The Army in a leaked circular signed by Major Gen J. A. Ataguba on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, however, directed all Nigerians Army corps, formations and establishments to forward all recorded incidence in the last two years.

The circular with the number; AHO DASE/G3/240/55, was dated November 23, 2021 and titled, ‘Evaluating incidences of police brutality against personnel of the Nigerian Army’.

“This responsibility has occasioned conducting joint activities with members of the civil and paramilitary organisations. These joint operations with other security agencies particularly the Nigeria Police Force create occasions for the police to equate its hierarchy with the NA and this has often led to friction especially at the lower levels.

“This friction has occasionally led to bodily harm and in some cases death to our troops. This is in spite of the fact that the victims have been identified and established to be serving personnel. This Department is therefore conducting an evaluation of these occurrences with a view to establishing the frequency and recommend possible remedial measures to stem the tide.

“Consequently, all NA corps, formations and establishments are requested to forward all recorded incidence of police brutality against personnel of the NA. The report should cover the last two years,” part of the circular read.

Repeated calls to the line of the Nigeria Police Force spokesperson, CP Frank Mba, were not answered. He did not also respond to the message sent to him on this matter.

(Saturday PUNCH: Excludes headline)

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