The Nigerian Army has agreed to immediately reopening Banex Plaza in Wuse 2, Abuja, following an agreement reached after a high-level meeting.
The plaza had been shut down for about a week due to a clash between traders and two soldiers.
The incident occurred on May 18 when traders at the plaza engaged in a physical altercation with two soldiers who had visited to complain about a phone.
Eyewitnesses reported that the confrontation escalated, leading to chaos and causing many shop owners to close their businesses early to avoid potential reprisals.
On May 20, military personnel arrived in five Hilux vehicles and temporarily shut down the plaza.
According to the army headquarters, the closure was to facilitate the arrest of those involved in the attack on the soldiers.
In a statement on Monday, Oyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, detailed the resolution process and the conditions for reopening the plaza.
The decision came after a meeting involving the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Principal General Staff Officer to the NSA, the Commissioner of Police FCT, the FCT Director of the Department of State Services, the Leadership and Management of Banex Plaza, a representative from the Directorate of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, and the National Chairman of the Mobile Phone Traders Association.
“The meeting aimed to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of the attack on the soldiers and ensure the continued security of the nation’s capital,” Nwachukwu stated.
Key resolutions from the meeting included the immediate closure of shop C93, where the incident occurred, and the arrest of the shop owners who orchestrated the mob attack on the soldiers.
Market leaders were also urged to remain vigilant and report any remaining perpetrators to the authorities.
Nwachukwu confirmed that two individuals had already been arrested and handed over to the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police for further action.
Additionally, the army plans to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the presence of its personnel at the plaza and the subsequent attack.
“It must be reiterated that acts of violence against military personnel are not only condemnable but also pose a significant threat to national security and public order,” Nwachukwu emphasized.
He called on the public to exercise caution and restraint when interacting with military personnel and other security operatives, particularly when they are in uniform.
Nwachukwu also highlighted that there are established channels for reporting grievances or misconduct by personnel to the appropriate authorities.
