The Nigerian Army says calm has been restored at the
Maiduguri Airport which was seized for two hours on Sunday by riotous troops
that it described as ‘unscrupulous.
In a statement today, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, Deputy
Director Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole Theatre Command said the
protest by the few unscrupulous troops happened while the command was
conducting a redeployment of soldiers at the Maiduguri Airport, following a
directive to review troops’ deployment in Maiduguri metropolis, 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”, Nwachukwu said.
“The Theatre Command undoubtedly considers this ugly
incident quite regrettable and appropriate measures are being taken to
forestall a recurrence”, he added.
The protesters are part of the special force deployed to
provide air defense and enhance security at the airport. The troops barricaded
some section of the airport and fired shots in the air, causing pandemonium, as
hundreds of pilgrims waiting to be airlifted to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj,
scampered for safety. One of the protesting soldiers, who spoke under condition
of anonymity, said the planned deployment was against the directives by the
Army Headquarters.
“The army Special Forces deployed to the airport was not
trained to engage in ground battle rather trained to provide air defense. Our
task is to provide air defense. Alas, Special Forces trained to fight ground
battle are stationed in Maiduguri and we are deployed to go and die in Marte”.
Another soldier lamented that the troops have overstayed in the Northeast
fighting Boko Haram, despite the rotation order by the military authorities.
He said many of them have spent over three years in the
battle field. “Some troops of Operation Lafiya Dole were deployed and worked
for over three years in the theatre and not rotated as against the directives
by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai. The command is directed to
redeploy soldiers back to their bases after spending stipulated time in the theatre
of operation. We have spent over three years in the northeast and we should be
transferred out of the northeast and not within”.
