A disturbing video showing soldiers torturing civilians, reportedly shot in the South East of Nigeria in September 2017, has been trending on social media since Wednesday, September 13, 2017.
The video, shot from the standpoint of the Nigerian soldiers shows men, believed to be Igbos made to lay down on the road side by the soldiers. Articles of clothing and the Biafran flag are seen in the video (below).
The person who recorded the video has been tracked down and confirmed that it was recorded on September 12, 2017 between 9am and 2pm at the Isi-Alanwa Army checkpoint in Abia State, close to the Clifford University Junction.
Story continues after the photos. Click on any image to enlarge.
In one of the shots, a Nigerian soldier spreads out the a Biafran flag in front of the men who are laying face-down by the side of the road. Other images show men forced to lay down in mud and some of them are wounded, some had been shot.
At least three of the men appeared to be unconscious. One of the unconscious men was laying face-down and gunshot wounds could be seen on his legs.
A narrator describes the incident as happening at the Aba-Owerri Expressway in Abia State.
Our editors have forwarded the video to Usman Sani, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Army for comment. “The Nigerian Army is aware of such video in circulation. The General Officer Commanding 82 Division is investigating it,” Brigadier General Sani Usman responded to The Trent’s enquiries on Thursday morning.
You may watch the video below. Warning: The images are of a graphic nature.
Tension continues to build up in the southeastern part of Nigeria where the Nigerian Army, under the command of President Muhammadu Buhari, has launched a “show of force” operation called Python Dance II.
The military says it wants to rid the South East of militants and kidnappers. Activists say that this operation is a cover for a premeditated genocide against the people of the South East.
A team of soldiers stormed the home of pro-Biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra on Sunday, September 10, 2017. Alleged supporters of the secessionist activist confronted the military tank in the local village in Abia.
A day after, a detachment of ten armoured personnel carriers and seven Hilux vehicles, according to multiple sources at the location, stormed the home of the Nnamdi Kanu and laid siege on his residence.
The military invasion caused panic in the ares forcing shop owners to close immediately.
The clash left one person shot and several injured with the Nigerian Army and IPOB trading allegations.
This story has been updated to include information from the source of the video.
