Soldiers and police involved in exchange of gunfire over Ramadan rice and Semovita

MEN of the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force were involved in an bloody clash involving the exchange of gunfire earlier today as a scramble for food items
distributed by the Borno State government descended into an all out war.

In line with practise during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the Borno State government distributed large amounts of rice and Semovita to poor residents so they could break their fast.

Thousands of people converged at the entrance of the government building in Maiduguri, forming a lengthy queue of men, women and the aged who hoped for either a 25kg bag of rice or Semovita, or both.

As the distribution started, police barred vehicles from accessing the venue, except those on special permission. At about 11am, a Nigerian Army truck showed up, insisting on gaining access to the venue
where rice and Semovita were being shared.

Suspecting that the soldiers were trying to help themselves to the handouts, police officers demanded they turn back immediately. This led to an argument and an angry soldier allegedly opened fire, injuring a policeman in the leg, witnesses said.

In response, the police responded and gunshots rent the air as thousands gathered scampered for safety. It took the intervention of other senior security officers to arrest the situation from degenerating.

One of the army officers drafted to help control the crowd, identified only as Idris, a lieutenant, did not go free, as angry policemen who accused him of instigating the crisis, beat him up. Following this the commander of the operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Lucky Irabor
was called in by the Borno State attorney general, Kaka Shehu Lawan, to restore order.

Calm returned after Mr Irabor arrived alongside the state police commissioner and the director of State Security Service. Addressing the parties in conflict, Mr Irabor described the situation as shameful and highly unbecoming of uniformed officers.

He added: “What is a bag of rice that will give you the cause to be angry? It is shameful and if the world hears that it is because of bag of that made police and soldiers to be fighting, is it not shameful?"

As a result of the incident, the government suspended the distribution of the freebies, leaving expectant beneficiaries disappointed and frustrated. Later on the Borno state government is expected to issue a statement on whether the exercise will continue.