Soldiers On Strike: Trason, Mutiny Or Rightful Protest

Panic gripped residents of Akure, the Ondo State capital on Friday as hundreds of soldiers from the 323 Artillery Regiment, Akure embarked on a violent demonstration.

The ever busy Akure-Ondo Road was deserted as the rampaging soldiers made bonfires on the highway. Our correspondent gathered that the mayhem was due to the non-payment of the soldiers who served in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Liberia.

There was fear in other parts of Akure as residents stayed indoors on hearing that soldiers were on a public protest. The protest, which started around 3p.m, lasted till 6p.m, as the soldiers who were chanting war songs forced motorists coming into Akure to turn back. They also stopped motorists travelling outside the state capital.

The protesting soldiers said that they were not paid $1,228 monthly allowance which was approved for them by the UN. They alleged that they were being underpaid by the Nigerian Army.

The soldiers alleged that a female officer, who served in the peacekeeping operation, simply identified as Helen, died as a result of the sickness she contracted during the assignment. They said that she died because she could not afford money to treat herself since she was denied her entitlements. The rampaging ex-peacekeepers disobeyed their Commanding Officer, Lt-Col Gabriel Umelo, and also threatened to deal with him.

There was fear in other parts of Akure as residents stayed indoors on hearing that soldiers were on a public protest. The protest, which started around 3p.m, lasted till 6p.m, as the soldiers who were chanting war songs forced motorists coming into Akure to turn back. They also stopped motorists travelling outside the state capital.