It is exactly nine days and counting since personnel of the Nigerian Army laid siege to the popular mobile phone and electronics hub, Banex Plaza.
The blockade came on the heels of assault on two soldiers and their civilian accomplice by suspected thugs over disagreement with a trader of an alleged faulty phone sold to the yet-to-be identified civilian.
Following the assault on the soldiers, the ever bustling plaza in now a deserted place as menacing looking soldiers have taken over and subjecting fellow Nigerians who dare “trespass” to brutal attacks.
Since the unfortunate incident, traders have been counting their losses in millions and doesn’t bode well for an economy that is struggling.
The worrying aspect of the illegal occupation is the absolute quiet from the Presidency and the FCT Administration.
For a government that seeks foreign investment and touts its democratic credentials, it is deeply troubling that this anomaly has been allowed to persist.
While the army seeks to justify its unjustifiable action, they need reminding that it cannot continue to hold law abiding citizens hostage at every slight by some citizens in what has become a norm.
The Nigerian constitution, 1999 as amended does not envisage retaliation or retribution by its military, therefore, the seeming tradition of ransacking communities and engaging in non-professional conducts amount to serious crimes against humanity that should warrant the attention of the international court.
It is saddening that the army in justifying its occupation and denying people access to their legitimate businesses said the plaza was shut after the incident on Saturday, May 18, 2024 to probe the “cruel treatment” meted out to “unarmed soldiers” by some persons at the trade plaza.
The Army has no right under the Nigerian laws to probe of investigate anything as it is the responsibility of the police.
Also, while the action of the mob remains condemned, the notion that the attack on the soldiers was “entirely unwarranted and unjustifiable,” is untrue.
Military personnel must resist the temptation to engage in purely civil business. The idea of people using their military friends of family to harass, intimidate and sometimes shot must be halted and those found to engage in this “soldier-for-hire” does not show a professional army.
Worried by the development, the House called for the utilization of modern technology, like surveillance and closed-circuit television, to identify and apprehend those responsible for the recent attack on Army personnel in the plaza.
The resolutions followed the adoption of an urgent motion, sponsored by Hon. Whingan Oluwaseun.
He noted that the soldiers targeted in the attack were unarmed and posed no threat, deeming the assault unjustifiable,adding that the temporary closure of Banex Plaza, a vital commercial center with adverse impact on businesses and the economy can have a negative impact.
“There is a growing concern about the excessive dependence on conventional, heavy-handed approaches in civil matters, leading to avoidable disruptions.”
He further expressed concerns regarding the deployment of military personnel in civilian affairs, diverting their focus from their core responsibility of national defense.
The House also highlighted the Okuama crisis in Delta State, where 17 soldiers were reportedly killed during a peacekeeping mission, resulting in substantial military retaliation and extensive damage.
“This underscores the inefficacy of current rules of engagement and emphasizes the necessity for a reassessment of military intervention in civil matters.”
Also, Global Rights, an international human rights group, has expressed concern about the siege on the plaza.
In a statement, the Executive Director of the organisation, Abiodun Baiyewu, said the military action has turned a thriving commercial hub into a scene of military intimidation, with army trucks stationed outside the gate and officers preventing business owners and customers from accessing the premises.
“This action violates the rights of many law-abiding Nigerians who rely solely on earnings from their businesses to make ends meet,” Ms Baiyewu stated.
She highlighted Articles 6(1) and 7 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to which Nigeria is a signatory, affirming that Nigerians have the right to work and earn an honest living.
The army must work to engender trust between it and the civil populace for effective security synergy. And this cannot happen through intimidation and assault.
It behooves on the FCT administration especially the Presidency to end this madness and ensure that the military should desist from taking the laws into their hands. Enough is enough!
