Nigerian Army Reacts to Video of Soldiers Allegedly Looting During Protest

 

The Nigerian Army has denied claims that soldiers looted goods during a looting spree on Thursday in Kano State.

 

The army described a trending video showing soldiers driving away with loots as misconceived.

 

The incident happened on Thursday, the first day of the hunger protest, in Kano.

 

Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director Army Public Relations, in a statement said contrary to the misconception portrayed in the video, soldiers of 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army responded to a distress call following a hoodlums’ attack on Barakat Stores in Kano Metropolis.

 

According in him, the swift intervention of the soldiers prevented the hoodlums from having a field day.

 

The statement said the troops intercepted some of the hoodlums and recovered some of the looted items, which they were conveying back to the Store, when another distress call of a planned attack on the Kano State Government House was received.

 

“The fluidity and urgency of the distress call explain why troops in the video were not overly bothered when some hoodlums even stole from the troops’ truck while in motion. At that juncture, preventing the attack on the Government House was more expedient,” the statement added.

 

According to the statement, the troops eventually moved the recovered gallons of cooking oil and other items back to the Store, where they were safely handed-over to the rightful owner.

 

“The management of Barakat Stores has acknowledged and appreciated the effort of the troops and their professional conduct in a letter conveyed by the organization’s General Manager,” the statement said.