Nigerian Army Addresses Viral Election Confrontation Video
The Nigerian Army has provided detailed clarification regarding a widely circulated video showing a tense encounter between its personnel and Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, during Saturday's governorship election in Awka.
The viral footage, which spread rapidly across social media platforms, captured the deputy governor confronting soldiers at Ukwu Oji Umubele in Awka Ward 5. In the video, Dr Ibezim was seen demanding to know who authorized the military deployment and questioning their involvement in the electoral process.
Army Reveals True Nature of Military Intervention
In an official statement released late Sunday through the Army's X handle, Lt. Col. Olabisi Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for 82 Division, explained that the viral clip distorted actual events. The military clarified that troops from the 302 Artillery Regiment were deployed following an urgent distress call.
"Approximately at about 2020 hours (8:20 pm), an officer of the 302 Artillery Regiment received a distress call from NYSC officials and corps members reporting that corps members and other INEC staff were being held hostage by suspected political thugs," Ayeni stated in the official release.
The Army emphasized that the distress call came after the sudden disappearance of the collation officer assigned to the polling unit, prompting immediate military response to protect electoral officials and materials.
Humanitarian Mission Misrepresented Online
According to the Army's account, upon arrival at the scene, soldiers encountered a chaotic environment where several political actors, including the deputy governor, were present. Despite the heated atmosphere, the troops maintained professionalism while rescuing the stranded corps members and INEC officials.
The rescued personnel were subsequently escorted safely to the INEC office, where collation continued peacefully without further incident. The Army maintained that their deployment represented a humanitarian intervention aimed solely at securing the lives of electoral officers and ensuring the election's smooth conduct.
The military described the circulating video as lacking proper context and wrongly portraying the soldiers' actions. The statement concluded that any interpretation suggesting misconduct was "baseless, misleading and regrettable."
Looking forward, the Army pledged to engage with the Anambra State Government to enhance coordination and understanding in future operations, emphasizing their constitutional mandate to support civil authorities and protect citizens during electoral processes.
