The Nigerian military is embroiled in a significant controversy following reports of the abduction and alleged torture of activist Justice Crack, also known as Justice Mark Chidiebere. Family sources and viral social media accounts claim that Justice Crack was chained to a tree under the scorching sun for over 72 hours by army personnel. His alleged "crime" stemmed from his public criticisms of the extrajudicial killing of a Nigerian man by soldiers and his efforts to highlight the poor welfare conditions of rank-and-file soldiers.

A distressing video circulated on X (formerly Twitter) depicting a woman, believed to be a relative, weeping and lamenting the excruciating conditions Justice Crack was reportedly enduring. She questioned the country's apparent descent into a "police state," where citizens are allegedly punished for demanding accountability. She further alleged that Justice Crack became a target after exposing a "brutal murder" by soldiers and advocating for "impoverished" soldiers who, she claimed, have been neglected by the military high command.

The incident has ignited widespread condemnation across social media platforms, with many Nigerians accusing the military of institutional oppression and selective justice. Calls for his immediate release proliferated, while some critics also pointed to potential ethnic and political undertones in the military's actions, drawing comparisons to cases where other individuals, such as an Islamic cleric threatening the First Lady, allegedly faced no similar repercussions. Conversely, some government sympathizers and skeptical users suggested Justice Crack might have been "abetting coup plotters" or attempting to "sow division" within the armed forces due to political grievances related to the 2023 elections, questioning his motives and sources of information.

In response to the mounting public outrage, the Nigerian Army officially confirmed the arrest of Justice Mark Chidiebere on Saturday, May 2. A statement signed by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, accused Chidiebere of attempting to incite soldiers and plotting "subversion" against the military high command. The statement clarified that he was "picked up" alongside some soldiers following a preliminary investigation into his viral social media posts concerning troop welfare and feeding. The army alleged that Chidiebere’s interactions extended beyond whistleblowing, claiming he was actively cultivating "vulnerable personnel" to foster discontent within the ranks, citing a chat "bothering on subversion."

Colonel Anele asserted that such actions by civilians have "far-reaching implications on discipline and national security," thereby justifying the military’s intervention. However, the army's official statement conspicuously avoided addressing the graphic allegations of medieval-style torture, including being chained to a tree for three days, that had been widely reported and circulated on social media. The statement concluded by confirming that while the soldiers remain in military custody, Chidiebere has been handed over to "relevant civil authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution," though the specific agency was not named.

This development has done little to quell the public outcry, with the hashtag #FreeJusticeCrackNow continuing to trend. Human rights advocates and critics have strongly condemned the military, accusing it of acting as "accuser, judge, and executioner" by allegedly torturing a civilian before transferring him to civil authorities. They highlighted the perceived hypocrisy in the military's swift and severe response to a blogger compared to its alleged inaction in other cases. Under the Nigerian Constitution and the Armed Forces Act, the military is explicitly stated to have no legal authority to detain or torture civilians. Despite these criticisms, the Nigerian Army maintains its commitment to the rule of law, insisting it acted within the "ambits of the law" to safeguard national sovereignty.