BEVERLY HILLS, June 13, (THEWILL) – The Borno State Committee on the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 on Saturday clashed with the Nigerian Army on the Maiduguri-Damaturu expressway.
While the Army personnel insisted on freeing the highway for the safety of travellers, the COVID-19 committee, including two commissioners of Babagana Zulum, the governor, enforcing the ban on interstate travel wanted the travellers to be properly screened and quarantined before gaining access into the state.
Trouble started after the vehicles conveying the soldiers and some civilians were stopped by the team enforcing the inter-state travel ban in Auno.
Kakashehu Lawal, Commissioner for Justice, and Salisu Kawaya-Buram, Commissioner for Health, said the soldiers pointed guns at them even after they introduced themselves.
Lawal alleged that the soldiers forced their way into Borno from a neighbouring state, pulling down the barricade and allowing travellers who were not on essential duty to enter the state.
He alleged that soldiers in three Hilux gun trucks, who claimed they were on a mission to repel Boko Haram attack on Gubio, deliberately rammed into a Rapid Response Squad (RRS) van which was used to block the road to prevent illegal entry.
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“After hitting the vehicle, the soldiers pointed their guns at us and began assaulting us,” Lawal said.
“One of the soldiers looked at me and said: ‘To hell with Democracy, Useless Democracy’. Others raised their guns at us, while one of them removed the cap of a policeman attached to the team.
“A cameraman attached to the team from the deputy governor’s office was also attacked and beaten while his camera was seized by the soldiers.”
It took the intervention of The Garrison Commander of 7th Division Sunday Igbinomwanhia, to calm frayed nerves, offering an explanation for the misunderstanding .
Borno has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country’s northeast region with a total of 423 cases and 26 deaths.
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