An Ibadan-based motorcyclist, Adeosun Olalekan, tells ABDULLATEEF FOWEWE how his wife was left with a broken hand one year and eight months after she was brutalised by some soldiers in Ore, Oyo State, and how the injury has affected him
Where do you reside?
My name is Adeosun Olalekan and I am from Ekiti State, but now reside in Ibadan, Oyo State. I have been living in Ibadan for the past 15 years, where I also got married to my wife, Omolara Adeosun. I am a commercial motorcyclist.
You recently lamented that the injury your wife sustained when she was beaten up by some soldiers has yet to heal more than a year after the incident. Can you recall how it happened?
I was not present when it happened; I was in Ibadan on that day. I usually travel to Ore, in Oyo State, where my house is located at the weekend. It happened on March 30, 2022, when the community leader contacted me around 7pm to inform me that my wife had been apprehended by the men of the Operation Burst team. I immediately inquired about the reason behind her arrest, to which the community leader explained that they alleged that my wife purchased some items from certain individuals. I was taken aback that my wife could make purchases without informing me because she is not the type who would do that. The following day, I visited my brother and shared the information with him. Immediately, we reported the incident to our other brother, who is an officer in the Department of State Services.
What did he say about it?
He described the situation as a setup and said he couldn’t follow us to where the soldiers came from for the operation as he needed to drop his children off at school. Consequently, we proceeded to the Operation Burst office and explained our mission to the officers on duty.
What reasons did they give for beating your wife up?
They told us that she bought some items from children, but did not initially admit to being the one who made the purchase. Subsequently, they took us to where she was, and to our disgust, we saw her in a state where she couldn’t stand on her own due to the severe beating she received. We asked the officers why they subjected her to such harsh treatment, and they replied that she gave them a tough time before they could apprehend her. As a result, they requested us to pay N20,000 for the expenses incurred on fuel during the arrest. I didn’t want to pay the money, but my brother insisted that we comply, so we paid N12,000 instantly. Shortly after, their commander used some of the money to order food in our presence. Subsequently, he demanded N200,000 for her bail and N70,000 for the items she purchased from the people I will describe as unknown individuals. I was completely bewildered as to how to come up with the money.
What did you do after that?
In our quest for a solution, we met a kind-hearted individual, who helped us establish contact with an Army Major-General in Abuja, who directed us to the office of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in Ibadan. On our way there, my father-in-law informed us through a phone call that they (the soldiers) had released my wife on bail for N30,000.
What did your wife tell you led to her arrest when she was released?
Upon reaching home, I questioned her about what happened. She explained that while she was at her shop, the Operation Burst team approached her and asked her to pose with some of her goods for a photograph. They intended to use it as evidence to falsely accuse her of purchasing those items without payment.
What did you notice about her physical condition?
She spoke in a distressed manner as the soldiers had physically assaulted her, resulting in a broken left hand and significant skin damage. I immediately arranged for a photographer to document everything as evidence, but she was unable to take the pictures that night due to her discomfort. Consequently, I had to take her to a general hospital the following day, April 2, 2022. When I informed my brother about her condition, he suggested that we involve the International Federation of Women Lawyers, which we did immediately. After arriving at the FIDA office, we promptly reported the case and presented them with the photographs, which made them furious. As a result, the association requested a voluntary payment of N2,000 from me, which I immediately provided, and they promised to take action. The next day, in the middle of the night, while I was using the toilet, I discovered that her private parts were covered in injuries. The next morning, I informed a human rights group about the situation.
What steps did the human rights group take?
They instructed me to bring her to their office, which I did. They expressed dissatisfaction with her condition and questioned her about whether or not she was raped. She said she was not raped. They advised us to meet the following Thursday to report the case to the General Officer Commanding.
What happened after you reported the case to the Army authorities?
After reporting the case to the Army, we were instructed to go to their cantonment together, which we did. When we arrived, the soldiers began interrogating us about the purpose of our visit. We informed them that we were given an appointment. Upon reaching his office, the GOC inquired about the woman’s husband, to which I identified myself. He then asked if I witnessed the incident. I also presented the witnesses who observed the incident. The GOC asked everyone to leave the office and subsequently interviewed the eyewitnesses one by one. After the interrogation, we left the place. On our way home, a Colonel contacted me and requested the photographic evidence I had. I handed the photographs to him and explained how the incident unfolded. He asked if we were certain that the individuals who brutalised her were soldiers and I said they were.
What did he do next?
He also suggested that my father-in-law, the community leader, and a pastor accompany us to the Operation Burst office, and he appointed some military police officers to accompany us. Upon our arrival, we saw a member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, who admitted to recently joining the unit and directed us to the soldiers’ lodge. At the lodge, we met two junior officers, who confirmed that their commander was responsible for arresting my wife. We then inquired about the vehicle used for the arrest, to which they replied that their boss used an ash Sienna for the operation.
What did the military police do?
The MP contacted the Colonel to inform him about the incident and the Colonel requested that they bring the soldiers, including their commander, to him. However, when they tried to reach the commander, they discovered that he had switched off his mobile phone. When they were summoned to appear before the Colonel, the soldiers admitted that they beat my wife up.
Was the commander later found?
Yes. Their boss arrived later, and the Colonel questioned him about the incident. However, he was unable to provide any explanation. Consequently, the Colonel asked my wife to identify the soldiers involved, and she pointed out five individuals, including their boss. The individuals who paid for bail and fuel money were also summoned to provide evidence of the payments, which they did.
Is your wife still hospitalised?
No, she was discharged from the hospital when we were unable to afford the medical bills. Currently, we are resorting to self-medication. However, when the pain became unbearable, we had no choice but to return to the hospital. Unfortunately, we were unable to cover the expenses for a hospital bed, so we had to go back home.
Has your wife’s condition affected you as her husband?
The financial burden has been overwhelming to the point where I haven’t been able to save any money. There were times I struggled to afford even the basic necessities because she is unable to contribute financially. Despite this, I have made it a priority to support her emotionally to prevent her from falling into depression.
How do her parents feel about what happened to her?
The beating occurred in the presence of her father, with our pastor and community leader also present. Just imagine the cruelty of assaulting a woman in the presence of her parents. Such parents would feel a deep sense of horror and disgrace. I am certain that no rational individual will witness such and not feel sad; even her enemy would pity her.
However, her family and my family made a genuine effort to support us during the incident. Their reaction showed their desire to go above and beyond, but financial limitations prevented them from doing so. Nevertheless, they provided financial assistance during their visits on multiple occasions. Additionally, my siblings and friends have been offering moral support. Therefore, I can confidently say that my family has greatly supported me.
What type of assistance do you need to get justice for your wife?
We want the government to help in delivering justice by apprehending and appropriately punishing those soldiers. Additionally, we require financial assistance for her treatment as she has not yet fully recovered from her injuries. Unfortunately, her health is deteriorating due to the lack of funds needed to provide proper care for her. It is impossible to see her and not feel pity for her. Also, we have depleted all the funds kept for her business on her medical treatment. It will be greatly appreciated if the government can support her financially and empower her after the treatment. We also request that Nigerians contribute to her treatment and join us in the pursuit of justice. I sincerely pray that none of their loved ones ever experience such a traumatic incident.
