Operatives of the Nigerian Army’s Operation Burst are reportedly flogging women who wear indecent dresses, and cutting off hair of men with Afro hairstyle at Beere area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Recall that in the wake of EndSARS protest and the trailing violence in the state, Governor Seyi Makinde, had deployed members of the Operation Burst to various hotspots in the metropolis, to arrest the situation and restore normalcy.
In a viral video on Monday, soldiers were seen flogging a woman who was dressed in a spaghetti night gown in the street of Beere.
Another video showed the operatives cutting off the hair of men who believed to be wearing an Afro hairstyle.
One of the victims took to his twitter and shared his ordeal on how the soldiers assaulted him and cut his hair.
@PrimalHubLtd said: “Hello Nigerians, it seems @HQNigerianArmy are really confused. I’m here 2 share my ordeal in d hand of Nigerian army today on my way coming 4rm church at bodija area of Ibadan where I had to pass Beere axis where operation burst under the directive of Gov @Seyimakinde stationed.
“Then he gave me a slap and I had to give in to his command in other to avoid further harassment. Now I begin to wonder if long hair defines someone as a criminal, hoodlum or thief. Truly these people are getting it wrong and I think there should a mental evaluation 4 each officer.”
Another victim, @MrBabatea, also posted on his twitter page calling on the governor as; “@seyiamakinde, i don’t do this oo, but i’ll do.. Operation busrt u deployed to Beere/Mapo are just abusing their power. Why on earth will you choose to barb my haircut which is not even full or too much. Sir with all due respct i can’t take it. It is totally wrong sir.”
Below are some reactions of Nigerians gathered by DAILY NIGERIAN from Twitter:
@YemieFASH “BREAKING: Soldiers attached to Operation Burst spotted in the viral video assaulting some residents of Beere area in Ibadan, Oyo State over the weekend have been arrested & undergoing investigation. The disciplinary actions taken against them should be made public.
@BhadmusAkeem “Has Governor Seyi Makinde @seyiamakinde been briefed about the barbaric behavior of the @HQNigerianArmy Operation Burst over the weekend at Beere, Ibadan? Who gave them the order to cut people’s hair & beat for indecent dressing? What kind of inhuman act is this?
@AsiwajuLerry “I remember when Operation Burst was just founded by late Gov Ajimobi, this was how brutal they were. Flogging and harassing every youths and young women in the streets. It was until mass reports before they got stopped. Is this what Gov @seyiamakinde assigned them to continue??
@rereayodele “We haven’t finished with SARS, Operation burst in Ibadan have started their own, harassing people for their dressing and even going to the extent of cutting their hair!! How is their dressing any of your business?? Who gave you the orders?? These questions, they will answer.
@Remmzor_YBNL “Bros @seyiamakinde, please look into this barbaric act of the so called Operation burst in Beere area of Ibadan , we aren’t in a military regime or sort of . Why are they violating our right? Who gave them the order? Please call them and talk sense into their head.
@SodiqTade “Apparently, HE Seyi Makinde has ordered investigation into the Operation Burst dehumanising viral video. And the officers in the video have been apprehended since yesterday evening. Good to know. However, the government really needs to change most of these officers orientation.
