The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri has acknowledged the arrest of a soldier following the alleged killing of a truck driver at a checkpoint along the Maiduguri-Dikwa-Gamboru Road.
The incident, which reportedly transpired on Boxing Day, stemmed from a disagreement between the soldier and the truck driver at the checkpoint, resulting in the tragic loss of life. This unfortunate event prompted a protest by commercial drivers, leading to the boycott of the busy border road and causing significant travel disruptions for many.
The 7 Division Public Relations Officer, Lt. Col. A.Y. Jingina, confirmed the arrest in a statement released on Thursday. The Army initiated an investigation after receiving a complaint from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
The statement assured both the deceased’s family and the NURTW of the division’s commitment to ensuring justice. The arrested soldier is currently under investigation, and the division emphasized its intolerance for any form of unprofessional conduct by its personnel.
The Borno State Government, represented by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, also addressed the incident, pledging to follow up on the matter to ensure justice. Prof. Tar urged the public, especially members of the Road Transport Workers Union, to exercise patience and decorum as the legal process unfolds.
The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, established in 2013, focuses on countering the threats of insurgency, terrorism, and armed banditry in the North Eastern part of the country, covering Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states.
