Bridge Commander in charge of 14 Brigade Ohafia, Brigadier Gen. Olusola Diya, has called on members of the public to report any soldier or military personnel torturing any civilian for having dreadlocks.
Diya made this call during the 33rd edition of the social media seminar held for media practitioners and social media influencers in Aba, Abia State.
He explained that there is no law prohibiting people from having dreadlocks.
According to him, although internet fraudsters are usually associated with dreadlock hairstyle, it amounts to infringement of people’s rights for soldiers to go after innocent citizens with dreadlocks.
The Brigade Commander was responding to a question on the constitutionality of the activities of military personnel who drag down and subject commuters with dreadlocks to torture at military checkpoints.
He said there was no law dictating for or prescribing a dress code for citizens, hence, it is wrong for military personnel on checkpoints to resort to enforcing nonexistent laws.
The Brigade Commander threatened severe sanctions against any military personnel found harassing commuters at checkpoints for purportedly having dreadlocks.
”Any soldier found arresting people with dreadlocks will be dealt with. Once you see any soldier engaging in such unprofessional conduct, please get us his name and the checkpoint, and see what we will do,” he said.