The Nigerian Army has detained Caleb Onyemaeachi, a shop owner at Banex Plaza, following a violent altercation between soldiers and traders at the popular electronics market in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Saturday.
Our correspondent gathered that Onyemaeachi was invited by military authorities in connection with the chaos that erupted over the weekend.
Reports indicated that the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police stormed Banex Plaza on Saturday evening, assaulting passersby and security guards in what appeared to be a reprisal attack.
Eyewitnesses said the incident was triggered by a free-for-all clash earlier in the day between four military police personnel and some traders.
The soldiers’ retaliation came just hours after the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bennet Igweh, had mediated a truce between the soldiers and traders at the police command.
On Monday morning, soldiers returned to the plaza to arrest individuals they claimed were involved in the initial confrontation.
Among those identified was Enomfon Udofia, a businessman frequently seen at Onyemaeachi’s shop to pick up goods.
Speaking to pressmen on Tuesday, Onyemaeachi’s wife disclosed that her husband was detained due to his business relationship with Udofia.
She expressed distress over the army’s refusal to release her husband and the ongoing maltreatment he faced without any formal charges.
“My husband is currently being jailed at Mambilla Barracks, Asokoro, and the army authorities did not allow any of his relatives to visit him,” she said.
Recounting the ordeal, she added, “He called me yesterday, saying his name was given to the army, accusing him of being among those who fought them.
He told them he had nothing to do with the situation.
He was later asked to come to see them, which he honoured, and since then, they have kept him at Mambilla Barracks in their duty room.”
The distressed wife, who recently gave birth via surgery, described her efforts to locate her husband through his live location.
“I just gave birth through surgery and I had to find him through his live location but they didn’t let me see him.
They sent me away.
Last night, he texted me that they tortured him so badly and broke his foot,” she lamented.
Efforts to reach the Nigerian Army spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, for comments on Tuesday were unsuccessful.
The “PUNCH” earlier reported that the military police’s aggressive actions were a response to an altercation that had been ostensibly resolved by the police.
