The Borno State COVID-19 committee, which includes two commissioners were on Saturday allegedly assaulted by soldiers attached to the 7 division of the Nigerian Army.
NAN reports that the incident occurred after vehicles carrying the soldiers and some civilians were stopped by the COVID19 team enforcing the inter-state travel ban in Auno.
The Borno commissioner for justice, Kakashehu Lawal, who was at the scene with his health counterpart Salisu Kawaya-Buram, said the soldiers claimed they were on a mission to repel Boko Haram attack at Gubio.
Lawal said the soldiers forced their way into Borno from a neighboring State, pulled down the barricade and also allowed travelers who were not on essential duty to enter the State.
He also said that the soldiers pointed guns at them and also rammed into a Rapid Response Squad (RRS) van which was used to block the road to prevent illegal entry.
According to him, four persons inside the van sustained injuries while the driver of the RRS truck died hours later at the Borno Specialist Hospital.
Lawal also said they knocked down some commercial tricycles injuring three women, including a pregnant woman and a baby who sustained fractures.
He said after hitting the vehicle, “the soldiers pointed their guns at us and began assaulting us.
“One of the soldiers even said ‘To hell with Democracy, Useless Democracy’.
”Others pointed their guns at us, while cameraman attached to the team from the deputy governor’s office was attacked and beaten and his camera was seized.
“As Nigerians, the mission and vision of the Buhari led administration and also the Chief of Army Staff, is to save the lives and property of the people.
“So we cannot just allow a set of indisciplined military men to cause any form of harassment when people are there on their official responsibility.”
The health commissioner, Kawara-Buyam, while speaking about the unfortunate incident told newsmen that the soldiers also allowed travelers who were not screened to enter the state which has recorded over 400 Coronavirus cases from travelers who came in illegally.
He said “Yesterday alone, more than 40 persons who travelled into the state were COVID-19 positive.
“We have just received a report from the hospital that the injured driver had passed away.
“This is very sad that all this happened because some soldiers chose to break the law.
“We are doing our best to stem down the spread of the pandemic, that’s why we are enforcing the ban on interstate travel.
“The coronavirus cases are on the rise and most of the new cases are from the travel violators whose blood sample we too while they are in the quarantine facility.”
However, the Garrison commander of 7 division, Sunday Igbinomwanhia, who rendered an apology for the action of the soldiers, also stated that those involved have been identified and would face disciplinary action.
“This is highly condemnable and should not be allowed to repeat itself again.
“Hence we will pursue the case to its logical conclusion until we see that those soldiers face disciplinary action.
“However, we as a committee, and government, appreciate the sacrifices of the Nigerian military and we will do everything to support them, but we will not tolerate discipline in our state,” he said.
