The Commander, 302 Army Regiment Onitsha, Col. Idongesit Akpan, has reassured the public of peaceful coexistence with the Army.

He made the remark on Friday in Onitsha, Anambra State while addressing Journalists on the maltreatment of a physically challenged person, Chijioke Raphael Uraku, by two soldiers in the commercial city.

Uraku, a cripple who hails from Ebonyi State, used the occasion to appeal to the military authorities to as a matter of urgency, avail him with complete Army uniform.

“I want you to give me the complete uniform to look like you people and that is the only thing that will make me happy,” he demanded.

Uraku, popularly called (CJ) by his admirers at the New Market Road, even produced a new terminology yesterday (Bugabus) at the 302 regiment that threw everybody into frenzy including Army officers and journalists.

Following his comic display at the event, the senior Army officers awarded him the title ‘Colonel’ and Commander of the Egerton Command, New Market Road but said it would be difficult for him to receive the uniforms.

Though he described himself as a friend of the military, he initially rejected the new cloths bought for him by the Command but later accepted after persuasion by the state commissioner for women’s affair and social welfare, Dr. Victoria Chikwelu, who was sent by Governor Willie Obiano to see the victim.

She commended the Army for showing concern after condemning the perpetrators who flogged and dragged the victim on the road while on-lookers watched with disdain adding that the Governor was looking forward to meeting and speaking with the victim.

For the physically challenged Uraku, he said he used to go on patrol in the area he ‘commands’, declaring himself a commander.

On his part, the deputy Director of Information of the 82 Division of the Nigeria Army, Col. Musa Sagir, said that what they were doing was not a compensation, rather to show that the Army was responsive and caring.

Uraku’s unfortunate encounter with the two soldiers in Onitsha was exposed by an onlooker who recorded the scene and posted same on Facebook where it went viral.

•Photo by Pamela Eboh shows ‘Colonel’ Chijioke Raphael Uraku flanked by Commander, 302 Army Regiment Onitsha, Col. Idongesit Akpan (L), and Deputy Director, Nigerian Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Colonel Sagir Musa . . . Friday in Onitsha.

Update news