Angry soldiers block, release GOC over food, water shortage

Angry soldiers Thursday prevented the manding (GOC) of Ag General Officer Com7 Division, Maiduguri,  Brigadier-General Victor Eziegwu in a remote Borno village when he went there in a helicopter to address them.

The soldiers who are drawn from 154 and 155 TF Battalions were used to dislodge Boko Haram terrorists who were occupying Alagarno, a remote Borno town and were allegedly left there without food and water.

A source close to the angry troops said, “Though Alagarno has been taken over by soldiers after a fierce battle with the insurgents, the terrorists planted mines around the town and as I am talking to you now, they have blocked all routes to the village. We have no food and water and the only means to enter Alagarno is by air. No vehicle can go in and out now because of the mines and insurgents surrounding the town.

“Instead of them to use helicopters to supply us water and food as they did when mines were planted along Bama to Banki road and our soldiers were cut off in Banki, the GOC used a helicopter to come and address us over irrelevant issues and warning us unnecessarily rather than address issues bordering on our welfare.

“When he finished addressing us and was about leaving, soldiers blocked the helicopter and forced the pilot to come out of it. So many things happened in between before he was able to leave much later. I do not know if serious damage was done on the helicopter,” the source said.

Responding to a text message sent to him seeking for confirmation on the story, Deputy Director, Army Public Relation of 7 Division, Maiduguri, Col Mustapha Anka said he does not have details as he did not receive any official briefing on the matter.

“It is rumour I have been hearing. We are passing through so many huddles that you did not know because you are not part of us. We really need media cooperation to boost the morale of our troops. That is very essential at this time.

This is a critical moment,” he said.
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