Metro
Army describes prostesting soldiers as unscrupulous, says calm has returned
The Nigerian Army has condemned the protest embarked upon by soldiers at the Maiduguri International Airport, describing the action and unscrupulous.
The Army, is a statement issued on Monday by Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director Public Relations, Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, said calm has been restored to the airport.
Soldiers of the Special Strike Force of Operation Lafiya Dole had protested on Sunday at the airport against their redeployment to Marte, a local government area in Borno State.
The protesting soldiers were said to have barricated parts of the airport and also shot into the air in what was described as two hours of siege to the airport.
According to the Army, the situation was brought under control after the Theatre Commander addressed the troops.
Read also: 10 people killed in failed bank robbery
The statement reads: “The Theatre Command yesterday witnessed a riotous reaction from a few unscrupulous troops while conducting a redeployment of troops who are currently deployed at the Maiduguri Airport, following a directive to review troops’ deployment in Maiduguri metropolis in a bid to reinvigorate the security architecture of the city.
“The redeployment became expedient after a recent assessment of the security situation by the Theatre Command. Regrettably however, a few of the troops who had misunderstood the development and erroneously assumed it was going to negatively affect their rotation from the theatre of operation became agitated and reacted by firing into the air.
“Calm has however been restored, as the Theatre Commander, Major General Abba Dikko has promptly taken charge of the situation after addressing and admonishing the troops.
“The Theatre Command undoubtedly considers this ugly incident quite regrettable and appropriate measures are being taken to forestall a recurrence.
“Members of the general public are please enjoined to remain calm and go about their normal activities as the situation has been put under firm control.”
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