Doreen Augustin, wife of Lcpl. Ogunkayode Adegoke, a Soldier who was recently shot after he and his colleagues broke out of “overcrowded cells” to protest against poor feeding, others in Sokoto State, has raised the alarm, lamenting that her husband is dying in a cell.
According to Doreen, her husband is in urgent need of medical attention after being shot in the leg.
Twenty-four-year-old Doreen who spoke to SaharaReporters on Tuesday, narrated her ordeal and lamented that several efforts made by her to get access to her husband had been futile.
She said, “My husband is a gunner who was serving in Zamfara State but travelled to Sokoto State in May 2003, where he was arrested and detained by Nigerian Army.
“I was seven months pregnant when my husband was arrested. My son is now one year and some months old. I have been the only one running up and down; my baby and I are suffering because there is nobody to help us. I sold my phone to feed my son and his parent is worried.
“There is no means of communication, they have not allowed me to see my husband since last year. They always sent me away from the gate.
“He only sent me a letter once in which he said the army authorities were not taking care of him. He said his leg had been affected that he didn’t know whether he could walk again.”
“He asked me to tell the family to do whatever they can to help him. We are begging Nigerian Army to please release my husband so that he can go for proper treatment’ he has suffered enough,” she added.
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported that Ogunkayode Adegoke with service number 17NA/76/4847, who was recently shot after he and his colleagues broke out of “overcrowded cells” to protest against poor feeding, others in Sokoto State, had been put back in a cell.
Adegoke, who is now on crutches was returned to a ‘guardroom’ (cell) after spending weeks in the Medical Registry System (MRS).
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported how Adegoke was shot following complaints by some detained soldiers who broke out of their cells in Sokoto State.
The incident occurred at the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto amid the soldiers’ clamour for better food and improved living conditions.
It was learnt that the soldiers had demanded to speak to Major General Mutkut Godwin, the GOC 8 Division, Nigerian Army.
A source who spoke with SaharaReporters had said about 100 soldiers were detained at the 8 Division with about 10 soldiers in each cell.
The source said some of the soldiers had been in detention for four to five years.
The source said, “The incident happened as the detained soldiers complained about their standard of living, broke the guardroom gate and demanded to speak with the GOC.
“Some officers later told them that the GOC was on the ground to speak with them but surprisingly the GOC was not there. But they opened fire on the soldiers. A military police officer in person of N/18258 Lt Ms Lemu gave the order to 23NA/84/3907 Lcpl Sada Abubakar to fire the wounded soldier, with several other soldiers.
“Many soldiers are there who have not been receiving salaries for 2 to 3 years.
“While some of the soldiers in the detention have been there for 4 to 5 years now. Injustice has been taking place.”
“Some of the soldiers have now been moved from the 8 Division provost guardroom where the incident happened to garrison guardroom, while some were moved to Air force guardroom. Seven others were granted open arrest,” the source said.
Lcpl Adegoke Ogunkayode who was serving in Zamfara before his detention over a year ago, hails from Ikogosi in Ekiti West Local Government of Ekiti State.
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