One dead, others injured as army attacks COVID-19 committee members in Borno

No fewer than one person has been confirmed dead and many others sustained various degrees of injuries, when Nigerian soldiers clashed with officials of the COVID-19 Committee in Borno State.

It was gathered that the soldiers, disregarded the ongoing interstate travel ban and forced their way through at the gate to Maiduguri the Borno State capital thereby allowing hundreds of illegal travelers into the city.

The armed personnel, who arrived in three gun trucks, allegedly threatened to open fire on the COVID-19 Committee members led by the state attorney general and commissioner of health.

While breaking through the barricade, the soldiers rammed through a patrol truck of the State Rapid Response Squad which forced the vehicle to somersault in the bush. All local security personnel in the vehicle sustained injuries.

The soldiers also knocked down some commercial tricycles (Keke Napep). Three women, including a pregnant woman and a baby, sustained fractures.

While allowing hundreds of travellers into the state in violation of the restriction order, the soldiers also assaulted a photojournalist attached to the committee while he was filming the vehicles streaming into the city.

The Borno government imposed a restriction of interstate travel in May. Only persons on essential duties or with the issued pass are allowed into the state.

At least one person has been confirmed dead and many others injured after Nigerian soldiers attacked officials of the COVID-19 Committee in Borno State.

“We were assaulted today and it is quite unfortunate that it is a federal government law enforcement agency that is responsible,” said Kaka Shehu, the attorney general of Borno.

“We are carrying out a federal government order on restriction on interstate movement

and soldiers in three gun trucks decided to violate that by forcefully leading passengers into the city.

“They did not only break through the barricades but also assaulted us as a committee. They beat up our cameraman, seized his camera, and attempted to beat up some of the policemen on our committee.

“We did our best to calm the policemen, while I tried to confront one of the soldiers to remind him of the consequences of their action. But to my greatest surprise, the soldier looked at me and told me he doesn’t care about our ‘useless democracy.” Kaka said.

According to the attorney general,the rampaging troops were apparently enjoying cheers from the civilians that were allowed to enter the city, as they “threatened to deal with anyone who would stood on their way.”

The state deputy governor, Umar Kadafur, who is the chairman of the COVID-19 Committee arrived the scene of the faceoff and called the garrison commander to meet him at the scene and also ordered for the return of the seized video camera while condemning the action of the soldiers.

The garrison commander on arrival, apologised for the action of the soldiers and said the perpetrators have been identified and would face disciplinary action.

Explaining to the Deputy Governor, the  garrison commander said that the officer commanding the soldiers that violated the restriction order said they acted based on the fact that incoming travellers that were trying to escape from the committee had gathered at a location and the soldiers were worried that they could come under attack by Boko Haram insurgents hence their reason for the action.

Briefing journalists at the scene of the clash, the deputy governor said, “this is highly condemnable and should not be allowed to repeat itself again.

“We have conferred with the garrison commander and made it clear to him that we won’t allow any soldier to undermine our authority and the orders of Mr President. Hence we will pursue the case to its logical conclusion until we see that those soldiers face disciplinary action.

“However, we as a committee, and government, appreciate the sacrifices of the Nigerian military and we will do everything to support them, but we will not tolerate discipline in our state.”

The COVID-19 Committee, led by the deputy governor, later visited the Specialist Hospital where persons injured were receiving treatment in which the driver of the RRS truck later died at the hospital.