Angry wives of some Nigerian soldiers blocked entrance to the Giwa Barracks, at the 7 Division, in Maiduguri, owing not to allow their husbands proceed to Bama as directed by the GOC, General Mohammed Ibrahim.
The enraged women got wind that their husbands had been directed to proceed to Bama, about 70km from Maiduguri, the capital of the troubled northeastern state of Borno.
On sighting the soldiers, who were assembling their weapons, the women came out in their numbers, insisting that their husbands would not abandon them in the barracks to be killed by Boko Haram, the way some of their friends were killed early this year.
The women, who were said to have remained at the gate till 5pm local time, refused all entreaties by Senior military officials.
They vowed to sleep in the place until the General Officer Commanding the 7th division reversed his directive.
A reliable military source said that the commander of the barracks had already relocated to Bama and was waiting for his boys, who should have joined him since morning for an operation but they could not because of the barricade.
“They blocked the road, all our weapons are now locked up inside and in case of emergency, we do not have weapons to defend ourselves. The women are equally not armed but are very angry sitting down there with their children.
“They are saying that they will not be left alone without any soldier to protect them during this trying time, considering the fact that almost two thousand people lost their lives outside and within the barracks when the insurgents paid their last visit this year.
“They are not ignorant of what is going on. They live in the barracks with their husbands and are aware that there are over 40 of the insurgents locked up inside the dungeons of that barracks.
“Living them alone is clear suicide and there is no guarantee that they will not be attacked by the insurgents, who are always bent on releasing their own regardless of where they are kept.
“You are aware of the fact that they tried releasing their people from the same Giwa Barracks this year; it is by the grace of God that some of us are alive now”.
He added that “Some of us think the decision to move the soldiers is a risk to the women and even the civilians in the city, who these soldiers are meant to protect.
“This decision is due purely out of corruption, because money is involved in their movement. If it is not corruption, why would they take such a decision when they know that the soldiers here are protecting the city”.
Meanwhile, military presence was increased on Sunday in the streets of Maiduguri, especially around Post Office, Monday Market, Barga Road, Circular road and GRA areas of the town.
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