The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abuja Plaza

  • Reps urge Fed Govt, Army to reopen Abuja plaza

    Reps urge Fed Govt, Army to reopen Abuja plaza

    The House of Representatives yesterday urged the Federal Government and the Nigerian Army to reopen the Banex Plaza in Abuja for business activities.

    It also urged the authorities to use modern technology, such as surveillance and closed circuit television, to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of the attack on Army personnel in the plaza recently.

    The House mandated its Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Defence and the Committee on Police Affairs to investigate the circumstances leading to the closure of Banex Plaza and the military’s involvement.

    Read Also: Reps call on FG, Army to reopen popular Abuja plaza after attack on soldiers

    The committees are also to recommend more effective, less disruptive methods for handling similar situations in the future.

    These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent importance on the closure of the plaza and the need for modern, civilised methods in handling security issues sponsored by Whingan Oluwaseun.

    The House noted the May 18 unrest at the popular plaza, involving hoodlums who attacked military personnel, and the intervention by soldiers and policemen to rescue the victim.

  • Army probes attacks on soldiers at Abuja Plaza

    Army probes attacks on soldiers at Abuja Plaza

    • Falana: It’s illegal to close plaza

    The Nigerian Army is investigating the attack on its personnel by some traders at the Banex Plaza at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) last Sunday.

    Army’s spokesperson, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, announced this yesterday in a statement.

    The Nation reports that some soldiers and traders on Sunday engaged themselves in  combat at the popular Banex Plaza in Abuja over sales of bad phones. The situation led to closure of the plaza by security agents to forstore law and order.

    Read Also: Military, police take over Abuja Plaza

    Gen. Nwachukwu said: “The soldiers that attacked were “unarmed, and did not engage in any form of aggression, and posed no threat to anyone. Therefore, the cruel treatment meted out to them was entirely unwarranted and unjustifiable.”

    But, activist lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) said it is illegal to close down the plaza, urging  the Chief of Army Staff, General Lagbaja to ensure that it is reopened without delay.

    The senior lawyer argued that neither the Constitution nor the Armed Forces Act authorises the Nigerian Army to investigate criminal offences involving citizens who are not subject to service law.