A Nigerian Navy sailor, Ordinary Seaman Simon Yangaba, has accused senior officers of assaulting him and other personnel during a training course in Kachia, Kaduna State. He also alleged that he was dismissed from service after speaking publicly about the incident.
Yangaba made the allegations in a viral video in which he appealed to Nigerians and the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) to intervene, claiming that his efforts to obtain justice through military channels had been unsuccessful.
According to him, he and other personnel were attending a course when they were summoned to a parade ground and beaten by a senior officer.
He said the Chief of Naval Staff subsequently sent an investigative team to the training location to collect testimonies from personnel who witnessed the incident.
However, Yangaba alleged that the investigation did not produce the outcome he expected. He accused Commodore Siye Issa, whom he identified as the officer responsible for handling the matter in Kachia, of delivering what he described as a biased judgment.
He claimed that he was dismissed over an offence he insisted he did not commit.
Yangaba appealed directly to the naval chief, expressing concern that officers handling the case might have provided incomplete or inaccurate information about the incident.
He argued that the Chief of Naval Staff could reach a different conclusion if the matter was not properly presented to him.
The sailor further claimed that his dismissal was handled without proper transparency and that some officers obstructed his efforts to pursue the case.
He alleged that his ship did not release him to attend a proceeding in Abuja, despite his name reportedly appearing on the list of personnel expected to report there in connection with the matter.
Yangaba also accused a senior officer he identified as Lieutenant Commander Zani of humiliating him at the parade ground and seizing some of his civilian clothes.
He claimed that the incident was part of a pattern of intimidation following his decision to speak publicly about the alleged assault.
The sailor further alleged that he was sometimes marked absent from duty despite being present and carrying out his assigned responsibilities.
He said he had duty rosters and daily orders bearing his name, which he believed could support his account.
Yangaba also questioned the grounds for his alleged dismissal, insisting that his service record contained no disciplinary history that justified removing him from the Navy.
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He said the document recorded his postings, duties and performance during his time in service.
According to him, he had never been charged with an offence that warranted his removal and was prepared to pursue legal action against those he accused of abusing their authority.
He also questioned why he still had his service document if the Navy had officially dismissed him, describing the circumstances surrounding the decision as suspicious.
Yangaba maintained that other personnel who attended the training course could support his account of the alleged beating, saying some of them had also testified against the officer he accused.
He explained that he released the video to draw public attention to what he described as abuses of authority within the military and the difficulties junior personnel face when seeking justice against senior officers.
The sailor called on the Chief of Naval Staff to investigate his allegations and ensure that the matter was handled fairly.
He vowed to continue speaking publicly until the allegations were investigated and the matter addressed.
Yangaba also expressed concern for his safety, saying he had informed his family about his situation and would hold the Navy responsible if anything happened to him.
The allegations had not been independently verified in the account, and no response from the Nigerian Navy or the officers accused was included.
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