Idakpini: Wife of soldier that blasted Buratai freed

Mrs. Victoria Idakpini, the detained wife of Lance Corporal Martins Idakpini, the soldier that condemned the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has been released by the Nigerian Army.

Mrs. Idakpini was released after nine days since she was held by the army.

Lance Corporal Idakpini had lambasted Lt. Gen. Buratai in a viral video leading to his arrested last week.

He had said that the Chief of Army Staff is incompetent in handling the insurgence by Boko Haram terrorists.

In the video, he complained about the failing war against insurgency in the north-east and blamed the service chiefs.

Following Idakpini ‘s scathing remarks castigating Buratai which led to his immediate arrest, the wife granted interview to journalists.

In the interview, she called for the release of her husband prompting the army to also arrest her and her phone confiscated.

Few days later, his wife was reportedly arrested after the interview to SaharaReporters.

Therein, she said: “A day before he posted the video, he called me to ask for recharge card to buy data but I didn’t send it to him because he already told me that he wanted to post a video about the problems they are facing in the army.

“He told me to prepare for the worst. So, I didn’t send him the data because I don’t want him to get into trouble by uploading the video on social media.

“I asked him where do we start as a family. But he said I should man up, that I’ve been the one taking care of the family before now.”

Going further she said:

“Day before yesterday, he was on off and he resumed duty yesterday. He made a video call with the children after he resumed at the office.

“Not up to 30 minutes later, he called that they’ve arrested him and they are taking him to the guard room.

“He said if you hear from me, fine, if you don’t hear from me, fine.

“My husband’s main issue/complaint is that there is no ammunition to fight in the North-East, no ammunition, if you complain it’s a problem.

“They don’t pay them well. Navy get more pay, army don’t get all their allowances that should be given to them.

“I can’t hear from him, they’ve collected his phone and his colleagues don’t want to release information about him,” she said.

Punch reported that her release came after a human rights lawyer, Tope Akinyode waded into her matter.

Akinyode had threatened to institute a lawsuit against the Army citing “unlawful detention of the couple”.

The lawyer later filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Attorney General of the Federation.

He urged the Federal High Court to grant unconditional release of the Martins and his wife.

In spite of the release of the woman, Akinyode insisted, however,  that the lawsuit against the army would continue

Till date, meanwhile, there is no information about the husband—Martins.