The Nigerian Army has described as misconceived, a viral video insinuating that troops participated in the looting spree that occurred on Thursday, the first day of the hunger protest, in Kano
Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director Army Public Relations, in a statement said contrary to the misconception portrayed in the video, soldiers of 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army responded to a distress call following a hoodlums’ attack on Barakat Stores in Kano Metropolis.
According in him, the swift intervention of the soldiers prevented the hoodlums from having a field day.
The statement said the troops intercepted some of the hoodlums and recovered some of the looted items, which they were conveying back to the Store, when another distress call of a planned attack on the Kano State Government House was received.
“Considering the urgency of the imminent attack, the troops immediately diverted to respond to the distress call in order to protect the Government House from the hoodlums’ attack.
“It was in the course of the response to distress call about possible attack on Kano Government House, that the video was shot.
“The fluidity and urgency of the distress call explain why troops in the video were not overly bothered when some hoodlums even stole from the troops’ truck while in motion. At that juncture, preventing the attack on the Government House was more expedient,” the statement added.
According to the statement, the troops eventually moved the recovered gallons of cooking oil and other items back to the Store, where they were safely handed-over to the rightful owner.
“The management of Barakat Stores has acknowledged and appreciated the effort of the troops and their professional conduct in a letter conveyed by the organization’s General Manager,” the statement said.
Protest: Soldiers did not loot Kano store – Nigerian Army dismisses looting video
