There is an army barrack in my vicinity and the attitude I’ve seen from these soldiers is nothing but repulsive just to say the least.

Government really has to take measures in the reorientation of these boys in uniform, particularly the rankless recruits and make them understand better why they are in service.

Sometime ago, I was walking my ex girlfriend to be take a bike home after visiting, so while passing by the barrack, in a casual gesture typical of us, we held hands and suddenly one of soldiers began running towards our direction. When I saw him approaching I thought he was hurrying to catch up with something, but this hunk of a man rather barked at us to stop!! We stopped thinking there was something important he had to say.

But the dude in the seriousness of a man on the verge of orgasm asked us to separate our hands and walk individually without contact.

He said we had planned it and our intention is to make him jealous just to make jest of him not having a girlfriend.

I simply released her hands with a smile and apology,

You don’t argue with a man who has a gun, particularly in a country like Nigeria were justice is not guaranteed and the army will rather defend it’s own against a “bloody” civilian.

The only thing that may save me in a case of an unfortunate incident is an eye witness to take record on a phone camera..that would have been a solid evidence, but how is that possible for an event that took place at night.. Besides I’d rather not take chances with my life.

I had planned to visit the barrack the following day, to have a man to man chat with him and explain why I’m really displeased with his action and at least have him tender an apology, but I was advised by someone I told not to go ahead with the plan or else I risk putting myself in trouble.

But I have kept wondering why a grownup man would take offense and resort to bullying another man just because the man’s girlfriend is hotter than his own…assuming he has one.

Another incident happened yesterday, I saw one of the soldiers seriously flogging a grown man of about his own age.

When asked what the man’s offense was, he narrated a lame story about how his victim used to be a senior prefect in the school when he was in junior class and how the guy was so wicked to him and flogged him on many occasions and he swore to get his revenge someday and that is the perfect opportunity.

But I wonder again if his mandate in the army is to protect civilians and defend his country or he is on a personal revenge mission to make even some scores with past enemies.

It’s funny the kind of country we live in…

If churches and mosques don’t kill you with the blaring noises from their speakers, then the Muslims will kill you for “blaspheming” their religion, were they don’t, then the police shall shoot you over refusing to offer 50 naira bribe, and were they don’t as well, then the military will bully and oppress you till you think suicide as an option.

Yet we are supposed to be in civilian rule and even if we happened to be in military regime, does being in a leadership position automatically translate to oppression?
BY

Hassino Kelvin Saliu