Angry Soldiers Block, Release GOC Over Food and Water Shortage

Soldiers yesterday reportedly prevented the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Maiduguri, Brigadier-General Victor Eziegwu, from leaving a remote village in Borno State after he went there in a helicopter to address them.

The soldiers are drawn from 154 and 155 Task Force Battalions, Daily Trust reports.
The battalions, who were used to dislodge Boko Haram terrorists from Alagarno, their (insurgents) spiritual base, 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 added.

When the newspaper sought the reaction of the Deputy Director, Army Public Relation of 7 Division, Maiduguri, Col Mustapha Anka, he said he did not have details but confirmed hearing rumours of an incident of such nature.

He, however, pleaded for media understanding as the war against insurgency has entered a critical phase.

“It is rumour I have been hearing”. Anka said. “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 stressed in a text message.