Date: 2021-10-25

The 22 Armoured Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin, Kwara State, has detained a soldier for allegedly beating two female nurses at the Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin, owned by the Kwara State government.

The soldier is currently undergoing interrogation at Sobi Army Barracks, Ilorin.

Sources said one of the nurses sustained ankle injury during the incident.

The chairman of the state chapter of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Alhaji Shehu Aminu, confirmed the development to our correspondent.

Aminu revealed that the incident happened on Friday at Okelele Primary Health Centre, Ilorin which now houses Sobi Specialist Hospital after it was converted to the state Isolation Centre during the outbreak of COVID-19 last year.

He said the soldier took his pregnant wife, who has been attending antenatal clinic at the hospital, for delivery.

He said upon admitting the soldier's wife into the labour room, the nurse asked the soldier to go and procure delivery packs which included hand gloves and other materials to be used for delivery.

He said instead of going for the delivery packs, the soldier told the nurse that he would not be able to do so because the state government has provided all the materials at the hospital.

He added that not satisfied with the nurse's explanation, the soldier became infuriated and headed to the doctor's office and started beating the two nurses he met there.

"The soldier slapped one of the nurses who ran for her dear life while the other sustained ankle injury," Aminu said.

He said that the two nurses have been treated at the hospital for the injuries sustained while the association had reported the matter at the barracks.

Aminu also said that the state government had also reported the incident to the Nigerian Army headquarters in Abuja, adding that he has been arrested and detained in Ilorin.

Contacted on the development, the Public Relations Officer of the 22 Armoured Brigade of the Nigeria Army Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin, St. Sgt Waziri, confirmed the incident.

Waziri said the authority of the cantonment has put the soldier in the guard room for further interrogation on the matter.