Angry troops go on rampage, protest redeployment; General Dikko restores order
By ABDULLAHI ISAH, MAIDUGURI
Angry troops under Operation Lafiya Dole, stationed at the Maiduguri International Airport, on Sunday protested their alleged redeployment to Marte local government area of Borno state after spending over four years within the theatre.
The soldiers in their hundreds, who were shooting and shouting “we will not go” alleged that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai directed that all soldiers that had spent four years within the theatre should be transferred out of the theatre, only for them to be redeployed to Marte.
A soldier who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that “I have been in the theatre for almost five years. Instead of deploying us out of the theatre, they are now redeploying us to Marte. Are we the only soldiers holding gun in Nigeria? They should follow the COAS’ directive because this will kill our morale,” he said.
Reacting, the Operation Lafiya Dole Theater Command in a statement signed by Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col Nwachukwu Onyenma said normalcy has since been restored to the Airport.
The theater said “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.”
Col. Onyenma said “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 statement added.
The Operation Lafiya Dole said “theatre Command undoubtedly considers this ugly incident quite regrettable and appropriate measures are being taken to forestall a recurrence.”
The theater therefore urged members of the general public to remain calm and go about their normal activities as the situation has been put under firm control.
