Army detains Captain, 70 soldiers over Maiduguri Airport protest

The Nigerian Army has detained a Captain and 70 soldiers for their involvement in the recent mutinous protest at the Maiduguri International Airport, Borno State.

The Captain and the soldiers were arrested by the military high command for the ’embarrasment’ it caused the military and going against military rules of engagement.

Their arrest and detention is coming on the heels of comments by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, describing the action of the soldiers as unacceptable.

Buratai spoke on Sunday for the first time since the incident happened two weeks ago in Maiduguri.

The captain (names withheld) allegedly led others who refused to be redeployed to Gamboru Ngala, a border town in Borno State with Niger Republic, reputed as the stronghold of Boko Haram insurgents.

Their arrest and detention, according to military sources, followed an order by Buratai, that the suspects be arrested and subjected to severe military disciplinary action.

Read also: Boko Haram reportedly raids army base, kills 31 soldiers, wounds many

According to sources, the suspects had since been moved into two unknown locations in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, with a view to subjecting them to a court martial.

While speaking yesterday, Buratai said the action of the soldiers was strange and unacceptable.

“The incident at the Maiduguri airport that happened just about two weeks ago is an issue, which ordinarily is unimaginable, that disciplined troops, soldiers will behave in that way.

“But we have our procedures and this issue has been thoroughly investigated and those that have been found to be involved will face military justice. This sort of affairs will never be tolerated no matter the person or persons involved”, Buratai said.

However, sources who are in the know, have given reasons that necessitated the action of the soldiers, saying war fatigue was one of the main cause as the soldiers have been fighting Boko Haram insurgents for years without rotation.

According to the sources, the soldiers particularly rejected the posting because many of their colleagues who were earlier sent there were either killed or badly injured and their equipment taken away by the rampaging insurgents due to bad weather and insufficient platforms.

The sources said: “We became afraid when we discovered that no fewer than 30 soldiers who were sent there were killed within three days due to the heavy rainfall, which has further worsened the terrain mastered by the insurgents.

“We do not know why the Nigerian Army suddenly changed its mind and decided to deploy troops to the dreaded area after it had announced that it had pulled out of Gamboru, where Boko Haram appears to be operating from after being pushed away from the Sambisa Forest.”

 

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