Army Berates Protesting Troops, Says They’re ‘Unscrupulous’

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Monday, August 13th, 2018

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Nigerian Army has described as “unscrupulous” the soldiers who protested at Maiduguri Airport on Sunday.

The aggrieved soldiers were reportedly protesting against their overstay as well as resisting redeployment to Mart – one of the towns liberated by the military several years ago from the control of Boko Haram terrorists.

In a statement issued Monday by the Deputy Director Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole Theatre Command, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, 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.

He added: “The Theatre Command undoubtedly considers this ugly incident quite regrettable and appropriate measures are being taken to forestall a recurrence”.

The Army also claimed that the protesters were part of the special force deployed to provide air defence and enhance security at the airport.

While the protest lasted, 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 did not want his name in the print, alleged that 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 defence.

“Our task is to provide air defence. 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 suspected Boko Haram, despite the rotation order by the military authorities.

He alleged many of them have spent over three years on 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” alleged one of the affected troops./NAN