The Defence Headquarters has said Seaman Abbas Haruna, who was allegedly detained for six years, was never arrested.
Haruna’s wife, Hussaina Iliya, had gone on a popular radio station in Abuja to accuse the military of unjustly detaining her husband since 2018.
She specifically accused a senior military officer, Brig. Gen. A.S. Adamu, of ordering his detention.
Her claims went viral, prompting Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to order an investigation into the matter.
Days after the order, a video emerged on social media showing Haruna resisting attempts to disarm him by other personnel.
The video went blank during the attempts, but several gunshots could be heard.
In an interview with our correspondent on Saturday, the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, said Haruna was never arrested.
Gusau stated, “He was never under arrest. People are just making an issue out of no issue.”
When asked about his whereabouts since his wife claimed he had been in the military’s holding facility for six years, Gusau said this would be revealed after the investigation is concluded.
He added, “Investigation is currently ongoing. By the time the investigation report is ready, we will inform Nigerians what happened and where he is.”
When pressed further based on the wife’s statements, Gusau asserted that Haruna’s wife knew her husband was never arrested.
“She knows her husband was never under arrest. At the right time, we will let people know what happened.”
Some Nigerians, while reacting to the online video of the arrest, said the rating was maltreated.
A soldier, Daniel Somtochukwu, said nobody had the right to disarm a military official.
He said, “Seaman Abbas is still in detention because he refused to be disarmed. The same thing they tried to do to me in 151TF BN FOB during a parade in the bush. I told the commander that it would be regretted because no one has the right to disarm me when I’ve committed no crime in the bush.”
A netizen named ‘Maj. Gen. Femi Otunba’ said it was wrong to arrest or disarm a military officer in the manner Abbas was handled.
“You don’t collect or arrest an armed military personnel this way. The general was very wrong in putting himself and others in danger by trying to collect the seaman’s gun from behind. Just order the man to go and submit his rifle to the armoury.”
Another tweep, Habun Gwaggo, said the rating was right to refuse to release his weapon.
“Seaman Abbas knows his rights. Nobody has the right to disarm you by force and take your weapon. Nobody on this earth has the right to take your weapon from you by force”, he stated.
However, another military official, with the handle, ‘@ruggedpriest14’ on X, said he witnessed Abbas’s ordeal, adding that his action was wrong.
“I was there. I witnessed everything. I was begging and trying to convince him to obey orders, but he refused. On that day, there were two who came late for the parade. The other one was remorseful and didn’t resist arrest; he was released a few days later.
“But the one who thought he was stubborn is still paying the price for his actions. The only thing that can save you in almost all circumstances is, ‘Yes sir, I am sorry, sir.’”
Speaking on the matter, retired Brigadier General Bashir Adewinbi said the circumstances surrounding Abbas’s detention needed to be considered before passing judgment.
Adewinbi, however, noted that no competent officer would release his rifle to anyone.
“You are not supposed to hand over your weapon to anyone to submit for you. That can only happen when the person is dead. But if you are alive and physically okay, you must return your arms to the armoury where you signed them out.
“However, it also depends on the circumstances. There may be disarmament if an officer is misusing the rifle or if there is a possibility of danger from him,” he added.
