The Vice Chairman of Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State, Abubakar Muhammad Nur, has alleged that personnel of the Nigerian Army assaulted him while he was carrying out his official duties in the town on Friday morning.
Nur said the soldiers attacked him despite identifying himself as the vice chairman of the local government.
According to him, soldiers have been assaulting residents following an exchange of fire between security forces and suspected Boko Haram terrorists on the outskirts of Geidam.
“They have been assaulting people since they exchanged fire with Boko Haram terrorists,” Nur said in a message to reporters.
He also alleged that no official curfew had been declared in the state, accusing the soldiers of beating residents indiscriminately.
Nur said he went out on Friday morning to assess the situation after observing residents fleeing the town.
“As my chairman is absent for other official engagements, by the constitution I am supposed to be the chief security officer in town,” he said.
“I decided not to run because I am innocent and I was on my official duty.”
The vice chairman alleged that soldiers from the 159 Battalion, Geidam, approached him and began beating him even after he identified himself.
He claimed that one of the soldiers struck him on the forehead, causing heavy bleeding, while another allegedly hit his hand, leaving him with what he described as a serious injury.
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Nur said he was receiving treatment in an emergency room when he sent the message to reporters. He also shared photographs showing injuries to his head and other parts of his body.
The allegations could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report, and there was no immediate response from the Nigerian Army.
Geidam has experienced heightened security concerns over the past three days following an exchange of fire between security forces and suspected Boko Haram terrorists on the outskirts of the town.
Although details of the confrontation remain unclear, residents have reportedly been advised to remain indoors amid the tense security situation.
