Defence Headquarters Denies Detaining Naval Officer for Six Years

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has denied allegations that Seaman Abbas Haruna, a naval officer, was unjustly detained for six years. The denial comes after widespread claims made by Haruna’s wife, Hussaina Iliya, who accused the military of detaining her husband since 2018.

Hussaina’s allegations were made during an appearance on a popular Abuja-based radio station, where she specifically named Brigadier General A.S. Adamu as the officer responsible for her husband’s prolonged detention. The accusations quickly gained attention on social media, prompting Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa and Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle to call for an official investigation into the matter.

Shortly after the investigation was ordered, a video surfaced online showing Seaman Haruna resisting attempts by other military personnel to disarm him. Although the video cuts off before a clear conclusion, gunshots can be heard in the background, raising concerns about the handling of the situation.

However, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, firmly denied that Haruna had ever been arrested or detained. In an interview, Gusau said, “He was never under arrest. People are just making an issue out of no issue.” When asked about Haruna’s current whereabouts, Gusau assured that this information would be made public once the ongoing investigation is complete.

“Investigation is currently ongoing. By the time the investigation report is ready, we will inform Nigerians what happened and where he is,” Gusau added. He also dismissed the wife’s claims, asserting that Hussaina was aware her husband had not been arrested. “She knows her husband was never under arrest. At the right time, we will let people know what happened,” Gusau reiterated.

The release of the video, which shows Haruna resisting disarmament, has sparked widespread debate online. Some Nigerians criticized the way the situation was handled, arguing that no one has the right to forcibly disarm a military officer. Daniel Somtochukwu, a soldier, shared his experience, saying, “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.”

Another social media user, ‘Maj. Gen. Femi Otunba,’ criticized the method used to disarm Haruna, saying, “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.”

Some commentators sided with Haruna, agreeing that a military officer should not be disarmed without proper cause. “Seaman Abbas knows his rights. Nobody has the right to disarm you by force and take your weapon,” tweeted Habun Gwaggo. He added that such an action could put the officer at risk.

However, not everyone defended Haruna’s actions. A military officer with the handle ‘@ruggedpriest14’ on X (formerly Twitter) claimed to have witnessed the incident. He explained that Haruna’s refusal to follow orders led to the ongoing situation. “I was there. I witnessed everything. I was begging and trying to convince him to obey orders, but he refused. The other person who came late for the parade 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.”

Retired Brigadier General Bashir Adewinbi also weighed in on the controversy, stating that officers should not hand over their weapons 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,” Adewinbi explained.

However, Adewinbi acknowledged that there could be circumstances that require disarmament, particularly if there is concern about the officer’s behavior. “There may be disarmament if an officer is misusing the rifle or if there is a possibility of danger from him,” he added.

As investigations continue, many Nigerians await the full report to clarify the circumstances surrounding Haruna’s situation and whether any wrongdoing occurred on the part of military authorities. The Defence Headquarters remains firm in its stance that no unlawful detention took place.