Angry Soldiers Ground Maiduguri Airport, Shoot Indiscriminately As They Protest An Unwanted Transfer

There was pandemonium at the Maiduguri international airport in Borno state last night as angry soldiers shot indiscriminately into the air to protest their deployment from the state capital to another local government.

The Cable reports that the aggrieved soldiers had initially been informed of their tansfer. A soon as they got to the airport and were about to board aircraft that would take them to their new posting in Marte local government area, they gathered, refused to board the flight and then began shooting.

According to the soldiers, they are meant to be sent back home and not to a new posting after spending four years on a special task in the Boko Haram hotbed.

An officer who witnessed the incident said superior officers, including Bulami Biu, general officer commander (GOC) of 7 division, were asked to stay off the airport or risk being shot.

“The second batch of pilgrims going for hajj from Borno boarded their flight amid the commotion. The special forces are ready for trouble. They are really angry. The superiors were asked to stay off or be killed.”the source said

The Nigerian Army is yet to issue a statement on the incident. Disobedience/mutiny is a punishable offence in the Army and could attract a heavy penalty such as death sentence.