Normalcy Returns To Maiduguri After Protesting Soldiers Blocked Airport

Calm has been restored at the Maiduguri International Airport after angry soldiers of the Special Strike Forces in Operation Lafiya Dole grounded the area, the Nigerian Army says.

On Sunday night, aggrieved soldiers reportedly fired shots sporadically to protest their deployment from the state capital to Marte, a Local Government Area in Northern Borno State.

The soldiers refused to board the aircraft which ought to convey them to the local government, saying they ought to be sent back to their families, after spending over four years in Maiduguri.

According to TheCable, the General Officer Commander (GOC) of 7 division, Bulami Biu, was asked to stay off the airport or risk being shot.

But in a statement on Monday, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, Deputy Director Public Relations, Theatre Command operation Lafiya Dole, said calm had since been restored in the area.

According to him, the Theatre Commander, Major General Abba Dikko, took charge of the situation after addressing and admonishing the troops.

He said, “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.”