At least 39 soldiers have attacked a community in Makurdi, the Benue state capital in fight over a lady married out to a community member.
The soldiers from the Nigeria Army School of Military Engineering (NASME) laid siege on the community in the north bank area of Makurdi, where they vandalised not less than 200 vehicles and stole mobile phones, TV set, radio and other personal effects belonging to the residents, The Nation reports.
The soldiers allegedly raped some women, although this claim could not be ascertained, but it was confirmed that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Samuel Attah, was beaten up in the process and his new Toyota Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) was also smashed.
It was further gathered that the soldiers went on rampage because a girl courted by one of them was given out in marriage to another man in the Hausa community. The state governor, Samuel Ortom, who returned from Abuja on hearing the news, visited the community.
The governor stated that about 33 of the soldiers involved in the incident have been arrested and detained according to a brief from the commandant, as he condemned the act of impunity carried out by the military men.
“No soldier will go scot free. This is senseless, this is madness. My heart is bleeding with blood. Why should those who are supposed to protect us turn their guns against us?
“This is unacceptable and it would be the last attack on Hausa community who are peace -loving,” he stated.