Army explains why troops rioted in Maiduguri

macfranc007 August 13, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Aanu Adegun

- The Nigerian Army says troops rioted in Maiduguri as a result of erroneous assumptions

- In their reaction, leadership of the Army says it considers the incident as quite regrettable

- It also added that appropriate measures are being taken to forestall a recurrence

Nigerian Army has reacted to the recent riot by some troops in Maiduguri, Borno state capital.The Army explained that some soldiers who participated in the riot had erroneously assumed that a review of troops deployments would negatively affect them.

In a statement sighted by NAIJ.com and signed by Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, deputy director public relations, Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, calm was restored after the troops were addressed by Theatre Commander, Major General Abba Dikko.

"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," the statement read in full.

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that soldiers of the Special Force deployed to the northern state for the counterinsurgency operation grounded the airport in the capital Maiduguri.

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app

According to the reports, the soldiers had barricaded the airport gate since 6:15 p.m and later began firing shots sporadically into the air and forcing many residents around the area to flee.

Soldier shares battleground experience, dedicates song to colleagues - on NAIJ.com TV: