At least one person died on Saturday after soldiers of the Nigerian Army rammed their truck into the vehicle of a member of Borno Rapid Response Squad (RRS), the state officials have said.
The soldiers also threatened to shoot the Borno State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Hon Kaka Shehu Lawan and some members of the COVID-19 Committee.
“The soldiers pointed three gun trucks at my direction and other members of the COVID-19 Response Team, they threatened to shoot us,” Lawan told journalists who rushed to the scene of the incident on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the state capital.
Also, a journalist, who is a Cameraman with the state television station, Borno Radio Television Corporation (BRTV), was not spared by the soldiers as he was brutalised while attempting to film the scene. His camera was also confiscated by the soldiers.
Trouble started when some members of the COVID-19 Team drove to the city gate in their usual manner to ascertain the level of compliance with the ban on inter-state travel and ensure that persons granted exemptions observe some COVID-19 protocols before entering the state capital.
The COVID-19 Committee according to the Commissioner of Justice had barely stopped four vehicles to check if they were amongst persons granted exemption before soldiers came to disrupt the exercise.
“They forced opened the barricades and allowed many vehicles to come into Maiduguri without allowing us to conduct the usual checks as COVID-19 protocol demands.
“In the process of forcing their way into the city so as to allow for vehicles to enter Maiduguri without the required checks, the soldiers rammed their vehicle into the RRS vehicle thereby injuring the occupants while one person later died at the State Specialist Hospital.
“While we attempted to interrogate their action, the soldiers started raining insults on us and threatened to shoot us if we provoke them,” Lawan said.
Commissioner of Health, Dr Salihu Kwayabura Aliyu, who doubles as Secretary of the COVID-19 Committee, was also assaulted. He described the action of the soldiers to have allowed travellers into the state capital without checks as inimical to the fight against COVID-19.
“Most of the COVID-19 positive cases we have recorded were from travellers entering the state capital from this point. 95% of positive cases came from the travellers after testing them.
“It’s rather unfortunate for the soldiers to have acted in this manner,” Aliyu said.
Borno State Deputy Governor, who is also the Chairman of the COVID-19 Committee, Hon Umar Usman Kadafur, addressed journalists at the scene of the incident. He said the action of the soldiers left so much to be desired.
Kadafur wondered why the soldiers could descend to the level of threatening to shoot government officials who were carrying out their duty to safeguard the lives of residents against COVID-19.
“The Garrison Commander has promised to set up an inquiry into the matter. I believe him and definitely, these soldiers must face the law,” Kadafur said.
The Garrison Commander, Brig -Gen S.I Igbinomwanhia had apologised for the action of the soldiers and promised to investigate the matter.
“I’m not apologising to shield our soldiers but we will carry out an investigation,” Igbinomwanhia said.
