By Kolawole Ojebisi
One person was reportedly killed and four others injured after Nigerian soldiers attached to the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army clashed with officials of the COVID-19 Committee at a checkpoint in Maiduguri, Borno State.
It was gathered that the state Attorney-General, Kakashehu Lawal, and Commissioner for Health, Dr Salisu Kawaya-Bura, were among the committee members when the incident occurred on Saturday.
The soldiers were said to be escorting some travellers into Maiduguri when their armoured vehicle hit the hilux conveying some members of the Borno Rapid Response Squad attached to the committee.
The force of the collision propelled the RRS Hilux vehicle down the roadway, causing it to summersault, killing one person while injuring four others.
The driver of the Covid-19 team was later confirmed dead at the state Specialist Hospital where all the injured were rushed for treatment.
The soldiers were said to have come down, afterwards, from their vehicle and assaulted the COVID ’19 team.
Speaking about the incident, the Attorney General said the soldiers turned one of their gun trucks to his face threatening to shoot him during the assault.
He added that the soldiers violated their constitutional duties by their action.
He said, “As Nigerians, the mission and vision of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration of course the Chief of Army Staff, is to protect lives and property of citizens. We can not just allow a chunk of the military men to cause havoc when people are doing their official duties.”
It took the intervention of the deputy governor, Umar Kadafur, who chairs the COVID-19 committee, who arrived at the scene of the faceoff and called the garrison commander to meet him at the scene to douse the tension.
Kadafur also ordered the return of the video camera allegedly seized from the team while condemning the action of the soldiers.
The troops, however, claimed to be on a mission to repel Boko Haram attack on Gubio.
The garrison commander, who apologised for the action of the soldiers, said the perpetrators have been identified and would face disciplinary action.
