On Tuesday, the Nigerian Army broke its silence regarding a recent confrontation between soldiers and civilians at Banex Plaza in the Wuse area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Army’s spokesperson, revealed that the plaza was shut down on Saturday, May 18, 2024, to investigate the “cruel treatment” inflicted on “unarmed soldiers” by certain individuals at the commercial complex.
General Nwachukwu described the attack on the soldiers as “entirely unwarranted and unjustifiable.”
A meeting was held with Banex Plaza management to identify and apprehend those responsible for the incident. The temporary closure aims to facilitate the capture of those using the area as a hideout to threaten the security of the Federal Capital Territory.
“This step is necessary for conducting a thorough investigation at the scene to determine both the immediate and underlying causes of this unrest,” the statement continued.
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“The investigation aims to secure the Federal Capital Territory and prevent similar attacks on our personnel and other security operatives, as witnessed in the unfortunate incident in Okuama.”
The Army condemned the assault on its personnel and urged the public to exercise caution and restraint when dealing with military and other security operatives. They encouraged Nigerians to use official channels to report grievances or misconduct.
The incident at Banex Plaza followed a scuffle involving traders and soldiers, leading to the plaza’s occupation by soldiers and police over the weekend.
According to sources, the conflict arose when three soldiers confronted a trader over a phone issue. The situation escalated when phone dealers allegedly ganged up and overpowered the soldiers and a civilian.
Police reports indicated that Suleiman Ahmed bought a phone from shop owner Suleiman Ibrahim at Banex Plaza. When Ahmed found the phone faulty, he returned with four soldiers to seek a replacement, resulting in a confrontation with the shop owner.
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