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Nigeria: Soldiers Rampage in Akure
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This Day (Lagos)
5 July 2008
Posted to the web 5 July 2008
James Sowole
Akure
For several hours beginning from around mid-afternoon yesterday, rampaging soldiers took over some streets of Akure, the Ondo State capital setting up bonfires that totally blocked the entrance to the metropolis through Ondo axis.
The soldiers, drawn from across the country, had been quartered at the Owena Barracks of the 323 Artillery Regiment of the Nigerian Army. It was learnt that their grouse was the non-payment of their entitlements since they came back from Liberia on peace-keeping mission.
Civilians living around the barracks, which is located on the outskirts of the town, ran helter skelter and most were forced to trek long distances as no vehicular movement was allowed to and from the metropolis.
Elsewhere in town, palpable fear gripped residents as news filtered in that the soldiers were on rampage, resulting in abrupt paralysis of social and economic activities. THISDAY checks revealed that panic-stricken traders hurriedly closed shop in the state capital.
The riotous situation was the same inside the barracks as hundreds others held hostage the Commanding Officer (CO), Gabriel Umelo, a Lieutenant Colonel, and other senior officers of the military in his office.
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Some of the peace-keeping soldiers said they were drawn from across the country to participate in the operations and that instead of the 1,228 USD that the global body approved to be paid to them on monthly basis, authorities of the Nigerian Army were shortchanging them by giving then only 3,000 USD for the six-month period.
The las time I read of peacekeepers from Liberia going on the rampage after they returned to their home country and the powers-that-be refused to pay their entitled salaries, that was around 1991-92 (?) and the country in question was The Gambia. The next thing I heard was that the President of that country, Sir Dawda Jawara, fled to a U.S. ship, that was conveniently visitng Banjul at the time and took refuge. Ever since Yaya Jammeh has ruled The Gambia. Why is is that in Africa a honest day work can not guarantee a honest day... [Read Full Text]
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