The distribution of rice to internally displaced persons in Maiduguri was disrupted on Thursday, June 23, when soldiers and policemen engaged in a free for all fight over rice.
Eyewitness account revealed that trouble started, when policemen tried to prevent some soldiers from taking away rice meant for the IDPs, insisting that the soldiers must come with duly completed allocation forms like every other person.
Africa Update gathered that the resistance from the policemen angered the soldiers who shot a policeman on the foot while scores of civilians awaiting their rice allocations were injured.
A joint statement signed by Colonel S.B Kumapaiye, the Commander, Army 7 Division Garrison, Operation Lafiya Dole and the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Aminchi Samaila Baraya, confirmed a fracas between a soldier and a policeman around the office of the deputy governor over a disagreement which led to the shooting of a policeman on his foot. The policeman, according to the statement, is responding to treatment and has been visited by the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Leo Irabor and the Commissioner of Police, Aminchi Baraya.
The statement said ” the distribution of rice to IDPs in Maiduguri and Jere metropolis which began on June 19 and was expected to take place at 28 wards of the two LGAs was overtaken by hoodlums who overpowered the committee and made away with many bags of rice.
“As a result, officials shifted the exercise to two premises around the office of the Deputy Governor outside the Government House in order to ensure security while beneficiaries were identified and issued allocation notes to give them access to the distribution centers.
“The exercise had gone smoothly since Sunday with some wards covered, until the unfortunate development today (Thursday),” the statement said. It added that an investigation had started to ensure that anyone found culpable among the security men are made to face disciplinary measures”.
