Nigerian troops on the march

The 2 Division of Nigerian Army has described online publication alleging that soldiers in Ibadan harassed and shot at motorists for about four hours at Iwo Road general area, within Ibadan Metropolis last Friday as false and misleading.

The Army, in a statement by Colonel Hassan Mohammed, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, insinuated that the writer of the story may have mistaken an officer involved in fracas with some taxi drivers to be a soldier because he was putting on a woodland camouflage uniform.

But the Army spokesman said the incident involved an Air Force officer. Explaining the cause of the fracas, the Army said, “It should be noted that at about 1:40pm (1340hours) on 9 November 2018, a fracas ensued between personnel of the Nigerian Air Force dressed in woodland camouflage uniform and a member of the National Union Road Transport Workers ( Micra Taxi Driver ) at Iwo Road, Ibadan.

“It was alleged that a Micra Taxi Driver and unarmed Airman, who was an escort to an Airforce Bus conveying pupils of the Nigerian Airforce Primary School, Ibadan were engaged in an argument following a minor accident.

“Unfortunately, other Micra Taxi drivers supported their colleague and joined hands to molest the unarmed Airforce escort, the driver of the bus and the pupils. Consequently, the unarmed escort sent words to Headquarters Nigerian Airforce Detachment, Ibadan who mobilized her personnel to the scene to calm the situation.

“Four Micra Taxi drivers suspected to have taken part in fueling the crisis were arrested by the personnel of Nigerian Airforce Detachment, Ibadan. The arrested Micra Taxi drivers are presently in custody of the Nigerian Airforce Detachment, Ibadan for preliminary investigation.”

The Army therefore urged the general public to disregard the online publication which it described as misleading, baseless, frivolous and a mere attempt to blackmail the Nigerian Army.