Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, was on Saturday thrown into panic as masked soldiers reportedly arrested, flogged and shaved off the hair of young men wearing dreadlocks and those with bushy and tinted hair, Punch Metro reports.
Some residents, who witnessed the incident, said they were afraid that another season of Operation Python Dance might have commenced in the state, adding that the inhuman treatment meted out to the young men and innocent youths was uncalled for.
An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said the soldiers visited major streets in the city dehumanising young men and taking them to an unknown destination without any explanation.
The eyewitness stated,
“The masked soldiers flogged many of their victims and used scissors to cut off the hair and then threw the victims into their vehicles and zoomed off.
“It was a very sorry sight. We were all afraid to get close.
“The soldiers came unannounced and started arresting, flogging, maltreating and cutting the hair of any young person sporting dreadlocks as well as long and tinted hair.
“We have never seen such wickedness before and nobody has ever told us that wearing of dreadlocks is an offence.
“All of a sudden, the soldiers came to the Ehi Road and did all manners of evil to people sporting dreadlocks before my very eyes.”
Mba stated,
“Honestly, the people around were afraid to ask any question, because no one knew actually what crime the victims had committed.
“After shaving the boys, the soldiers eventually bundled them into their vehicle, packed the hair and drove off.”
He urged the military authorities to define the soldiers’ job specification in Aba to avoid crises from their operations.
A human rights lawyer in Aba, Chief Prince Ukaegbu, described the action of the soldiers as illegal and an unbridled display of power.
When contacted, the acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Major Aliu Kadiri, confirmed the incident.
He said the Nigerian Army headquarters were aware of the matter.
He added,
“We are on the issue of the haircut. Our headquarters have called us on it; we are handling the matter.”
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