Lagbaja: Any soldier found culpable in Banex plaza clash would be sanctioned 

Taoreed Lagbaja, chief of army staff (COAS), says the military authorities would take appropriate sanctions against any personnel found culpable in the clash at the Banex plaza in Abuja.

The army shut down the plaza after a fight ensued between some traders and two soldiers on May 18.

Witnesses said the soldiers went to the plaza to complain about a mobile phone purchased at the complex, which led to an argument with the traders.

Several viral videos of the incident seen on X showed some men overpowering and beating two soldiers (in uniforms) inside the complex.

After the incident, many shop owners and traders quickly closed for the day to avoid being caught up in a reprisal attack.

Subsequently, some soldiers arrived at the plaza and shut it down.

In several videos on X, some soldiers were seen with about five operational vehicles stationed outside the plaza.

Some soldiers were also seen standing at the entrance of the shopping complex, preventing traders from gaining access to the plaza.

The army later said it had agreed to reopen the shopping complex one week after it was shut down.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, Lagbaja said the army was only carrying out its duty of preventing the breakdown of law and order.

“I read the press release from the association of mobile telephone dealers in Banex, apologising for the unruly behaviour of some of their members,” Lagbaja said.

“That shows they see us as their friends; they understand that what happened was a misunderstanding. The troops went there, and every Nigerian patronises Banex.

“The press release from the director of army public relations clearly stated that these allegations will be investigated; we are investigating, and we will take appropriate sanction on the troops if they are found to be culpable.

“The army is already deployed in the public space. We are deployed in all 36 states of the federation. We are deployed even in the FCT, conducting internal security operations.

“Although these are policing tasks, I have said that the employment of the military in Nigeria is inward-looking; we are not an expeditionary force, and to that extent, if we perceive that there is a likelihood of a breakdown of law and order, we will take appropriate action because if Banex is touched, it is the military that would be called out.

“The army, even in shutting down the place, worked in concert with the police. Do not forget that when the troops were being assaulted right within the premises of Banex, the policemen came down, and there was a likelihood of a breakdown of law and order.

“The troops were already deployed around the Banex plaza right before that face-off happened.”