The Nigerian Army has formally announced the closure of Banex Plaza in Abuja, a move expected to raise concerns about the army’s role in a democracy.
Army spokesperson Onyema Nwachukwu said the plaza, popular for the sale of phones and other electronics, was shut down after an agreement with the management of the plaza to identify individuals who recently assaulted two soldiers.
“In response to this unfortunate incident, a meeting was convened with the management of Banex Plaza to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous act by temporarily shutting down activities in the plaza…” Mr Nwachukwu, a major general, said in a Tuesday statement.
reports says how a mob, believed to be workers at the plaza, on Saturday, assaulted two soldiers allegedly over the sale of a mobile phone.
A viral video on social media showed the assault as the soldiers in uniform tried to flee from their attackers.
In an apparent retaliation, a group of soldiers invaded the plaza where they also assaulted some civilians.
The army spokesperson had told PREMIUM TIMES that the assault on the soldiers would be investigated.
This newspaper also reported on Sunday that soldiers blocked the entrance to the plaza, essentially preventing any business from going on in the shops in the plaza.
Such incidents as happened at Banex Plaza are supposed to be investigated by the police who would then prosecute those found culpable. The shutdown could also have been announced by civil authorities such as the Abuja administration or the Abuja Municipal Council Area where the plaza is located.
Both the police and Abuja administration told PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday night that they were not aware of the shutdown of the plaza.
“With all due respect, you know very well that Police are not involved why all this. Channel all your complaints to the military pls,” Abuja police spokesperson Josephine Adeh told this newspaper via WhatsApp in response to our enquiry.
“The military feels that somebody has offended some of them and then you went to shut down the market. It is wrong morally, it is wrong legally, it is unlawful, it is unconstitutional and should not be allowed in a democratic setting,” human rights lawyer Mojirayo Ogunlana told PREMIUM TIMES.
In his statement, Mr Nwachukwu suggested that the army was leading the investigation, saying the army wanted to prevent a fatal assault on soldiers as happened in Okuama, Delta State, recently.
“This investigation ultimately aims at ensuring the security of the Federal Capital Territory and to prevent such unwarranted attacks on own personnel and other security operatives, as has been observed in other areas, such as the unfortunate attack in Okuama,” Mr Nwachukwu wrote.
Read the full statement by the army below.
Following the recent unrest at Banex Plaza in Wuse, Abuja, on Saturday 18 May 2024, by yet to be identified hoodlums who launched a brutal attack on some Nigerian Army personnel, a swift intervention by soldiers and policemen on internal security duties salvaged the situation and rescued the attacked personnel from being lynched by the hoodlums.
It is important to note that the soldiers attacked were unarmed, did not engage in any form of aggression, and posed no threat to anyone. Therefore, the cruel treatment meted out to them was entirely unwarranted and unjustifiable.
In response to this unfortunate incident, a meeting was convened with the management of Banex Plaza to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous act by temporarily shutting down activities in the plaza to ensure that the hoodlums who have been using the Banex neighborhood as a sanctuary to pose a security threat to the Federal Capital Territory were apprehended.
This, is in furtherance of the need for extensive investigation to be conducted at the scene to determine both the immediate and underlying causes of this mayhem. This investigation ultimately aims at ensuring the security of the Federal Capital Territory and to prevent such unwarranted attacks on own personnel and other security operatives, as has been observed in other areas, such as the unfortunate attack in Okuama.
The Nigerian Army will equally ensure that it diligently investigates the circumstances surrounding the presence of the personnel at the plaza and the attack that ensued.
Nonetheless, such acts of violence against personnel are not only condemnable, but could degenerate to a breakdown of law and order, orchestrating threats to national security.
Accordingly, the NA enjoins members of the public to exercise caution and restraint in dealing with military personnel and other security operatives, especially when they are in uniform. There are established channels through which grievances or misconduct by personnel could be reported to the appropriate authorities. It is imperative that these channels are utilized to maintain order and respect for those who serve and protect our nation.
