The Nigerian Army has announced that Banex Plaza in the Wuse 2 area of Abuja was temporarily closed to facilitate the arrest of individuals who attacked two soldiers at the complex.

According to reports, the incident occurred last Saturday, May 18, when traders got into a fight with two soldiers who had come to the plaza to complain about a phone. Witnesses reported that the argument escalated into a physical altercation, prompting many shop owners and traders to close early to avoid potential retaliation.

On Monday, military personnel arrived at the plaza in approximately five Hilux vehicles and shut it down.

In a statement released on Tuesday, May 21, Army spokesperson Onyema Nwachukwu stated that the soldiers involved in the incident were unarmed and did not provoke the traders. He also mentioned that a meeting was held with the plaza's management to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

The statement in part reads;

“In response to this unfortunate incident, a meeting was convened with the management of Banex Plaza to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous act by temporarily shutting down activities in the plaza to ensure that the hoodlums who have been using the Banex neighbourhood as a sanctuary to pose a security threat to the Federal Capital Territory were apprehended.

This investigation ultimately aims at ensuring the security of the Federal Capital Territory and to prevent such unwarranted attacks on own personnel and other security operatives, as has been observed in other areas, such as the unfortunate attack in Okuama.

The Nigerian Army will equally ensure that it diligently investigates the circumstances surrounding the presence of the personnel at the plaza and the attack that ensued.

Nonetheless, such acts of violence against personnel are not only condemnable but could degenerate into a breakdown of law and order, orchestrating threats to national security.”