A Nigerian lawmaker in the second republic, Dr Junaid Mohammed, has called for the immediate release of Lance Corporal Martins, a soldier in the Nigerian Army, who was arrested after making a video blasting the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, and other security chiefs of the country.
The soldier was arrested on the order of Buratai. Martins said Buratai and other security chiefs in the country had failed in their responsibilities to defend the country. Calling for the release of the soldier, Mohammed said the soldier spoke the ‘simple truth’ about the Nigerian Army and did not deserve to be detained.
He further mentioned that Buratai and the Nigerian military were maltreating the innocent Lance Corporal Martins for speaking the truth and that the soldier should be released and not detained arbitrarily.
Mohammed said, “The simple truth is that the Nigerian Army under Buratai has failed and is also failing. He added that normally, the major and primary role of the Armed Forces is to make sure the country is defended against any external attack or not allowing enemies facilitate the killings of Nigerians. But the Nigerian Armed Forces have failed especially the Nigerian Army under Buratai who is more playing business than protecting life and its country.”
He also admonished that what the innocent soldier said is true, that they should rather quarrel him for the kind of motivation he has and not detaining him for speaking the truth about insecurity in the country. And that it is only a lousy soldier like Buratai who was appointed by consideration and not merit would see the truth and not say it, that if they have sense, then they should release him. He said.
He added, “He (Lance Corporal Martins) should be released. This injustice has become the order of the day under Buratai.
“As far as I’m concerned, nobody should be above the law but at the same time, nobody should be subjected to arbitrary detention and trials. The man must be released, if not I will endorse overwhelming and any attempts by his colleagues to free him.”
Mohammed dispelled claims that Buratai had been able to foil about 15 coup d’tat against the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Mohammed added that this arrest is opening rooms for uprising, that the President have given enough reason to anyone who is ready to carry out a coup. And that if the voices of the people are ignored continuously, then it will be clear that they want rebellion and uprising and that if the situation in the country does not change especially in the North west, then they are heading to disaster.
