There was pandemonium at the Maiduguri international airport
in Borno state last night as angry soldiers shot indiscriminately into the air
to protest their deployment from the state capital to another local government.
The Cable reports that the aggrieved soldiers had initially
been informed of their transfer. A soon as they got to the airport and were
about to board aircraft that would take them to their new posting in Marte
local government area, they gathered, refused to board the flight and then began
shooting.
According to the soldiers, they are meant to be sent back
home and not to a new posting after spending four years on a special task in
the Boko Haram hotbed.
An officer who witnessed the incident said superior
officers, including Bulami Biu, general officer commander (GOC) of 7 divisions,
were asked to stay off the airport or risk being shot.
“The second batch of pilgrims going for hajj from Borno
boarded their flight amid the commotion. The Special Forces are ready for
trouble. They are really angry. The superiors were asked to stay off or be killed
“the source said
The Nigerian Army is yet to issue a statement on the
incident. Disobedience/mutiny is a punishable offence in the Army and could
attract a heavy penalty such as death sentence.
