A member of the Ebonyi State Taskforce has been arrested following a violent altercation with a soldier at the International Market in Abakaliki, the state capital. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday morning at Lot 2 of the market, has raised serious concerns about the conduct of some security personnel and the taskforce members operating within the state.
According to the soldier, identified as Nwuzor Elias, the confrontation began when he refused to pay a ₦5,000 fee demanded by the taskforce members. Elias explained that he had gone to the market for personal reasons and was not carrying any goods for loading or offloading, which the taskforce members claimed was the reason for the fee.
“I told them I was not carrying anything and was not there to load or offload anything,” Elias explained. “I was simply there to buy something, and I made it clear to them that I had no intention of paying the ₦5,000 fee they were demanding.”
Despite his explanations, the situation escalated when the taskforce members reportedly responded aggressively. Elias, who tried to de-escalate the situation by identifying himself as a soldier, was met with a defiant and threatening response.
“I told them I was a soldier, hoping they would respect that and back off,” Elias said. “But they said it didn’t concern them that I was a soldier. They told me to go back to Port Harcourt and continue my soldier work there. They even claimed to be Biafran soldiers and members of IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra).”
Elias stated that before he could fully comprehend the situation, the taskforce members attacked him. He was injured in the process and had to be rushed to a hospital in Abakaliki for treatment.
“I was injured during the attack,” Elias explained. “I am currently receiving treatment in the hospital.”
Before seeking medical attention, Elias went to report the incident at his military barracks. He stated that an attempt was made to arrest all the taskforce members involved, but the suspects fled after hearing that the authorities were coming for them.
“I went to the barracks and reported what had happened,” he said. “The authorities wanted to arrest all of them, but by the time they arrived, the taskforce members had run away. They heard about the police coming, including their Commanding Security Officer (CSO), and they disappeared.”
The attack on the soldier has drawn criticism from members of the public, who have called for greater accountability and discipline among security personnel and taskforce members. Many have expressed concern about the growing issue of excessive power being exercised by such groups, particularly when they clash with civilians.
The Ebonyi State Police Command has since launched an investigation into the incident. Local authorities are working to track down the fleeing taskforce members, and an official statement is expected to be released soon.
Taskforces are often set up by state governments or local authorities to enforce regulations and maintain public order. In some areas, these groups are tasked with collecting fees for services such as loading and offloading goods at markets or transport terminals. However, there have been several reports of abuse of power by certain members of such taskforces, who sometimes demand exorbitant fees from traders or passersby.
The incident in Abakaliki is not an isolated one. In many parts of Nigeria, citizens have raised concerns about the behavior of taskforce officials, who are often accused of acting in an overbearing and sometimes violent manner. This has led to growing calls for reforms, better training, and stricter oversight of taskforces to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
In this particular case, the situation was made worse by the fact that the soldier involved, Elias, identified himself as a member of the military. Instead of being treated with respect, his status seemed to escalate the confrontation, with the taskforce members dismissing his identity and responding with aggression.
The fact that the attackers allegedly claimed to be “Biafran soldiers” and members of IPOB has also raised eyebrows. This could point to deeper issues related to political and social tensions within the region, particularly given the ongoing agitation for the independence of the southeastern states of Nigeria.
The news of the soldier’s attack has quickly spread across social media and news outlets, with many Nigerians expressing outrage over the incident. Citizens have condemned the attack on a uniformed officer, with some calling for swift justice to be served.
One concerned citizen, Adaobi Nwachukwu, took to social media to voice her frustration. “This is unacceptable! No one should be above the law, and security personnel, including taskforce members, should not be allowed to use violence to extort people. It’s time for proper regulation and accountability,” she said.
Similarly, others have voiced support for the injured soldier, urging that the police and military authorities take immediate action to identify the taskforce members involved and ensure they are held accountable for their actions.
“This soldier was simply doing his duty by standing up for his rights,” said another social media user, Chinedu Okafor. “It’s troubling to see how taskforce members, who are meant to serve and protect the public, have now become the ones causing harm.”
As the police investigate the incident, they are likely to look into the actions of the taskforce members and determine whether they were acting within their legal authority. Any misuse of power or violence against civilians, particularly uniformed personnel, will be taken seriously, and those responsible could face legal consequences.
It is also expected that the state government will weigh in on the issue, as this is not the first time taskforce members have been accused of violent behavior. Authorities are under pressure to ensure that taskforces across the state operate within the confines of the law and that proper oversight mechanisms are put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The injured soldier, Nwuzor Elias, is expected to make a full recovery, and his case is likely to be followed closely by both the military and the general public. As the investigation unfolds, many will be watching to see if justice is served and if any reforms are introduced to improve the conduct of taskforce members and other security agencies in Ebonyi State.
