The recent attack on two personnel of the Nigerian army over a phone transaction gone wrong is deeply troubling and unacceptable.

Development Diaries reports that the Nigerian army has since closed the area where the incident happened, the popular Banex Plaza, following the incident that occurred on 18 May, 2024.

UPDATE ON THE CLOSURE OF BANEX PLAZA, ABUJA

Following the recent unrest at Banex Plaza in Wuse, Abuja, on Saturday 18 May 2024, by yet to be identified hoodlums who launched a brutal attack on some Nigerian Army personnel, a swift intervention by soldiers and policemen on… pic.twitter.com/yQPfxXzAhz

— Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy) May 21, 2024

According to media reports, the fight ensued after three soldiers confronted a trader over a phone issue, which led some unknown persons to attack the military personnel.

Such actions by civilians undermine the rule of law and must be condemned unequivocally.

Regardless of the perceived grievance, taking the law into one’s own hands and resorting to violence against individuals, especially those in uniform, is a serious breach of societal norms and legal principles.

Also, the attack on military personnel is particularly extreme, given their role in maintaining national security and public safety.

While we totally condemn the action of the attackers, we also condemn the shutting down of the plaza by the Nigerian army over the unfortunate incident. It is nothing but a deeply troubling overreach of power.

This heavy-handed response by the army would affect countless innocent business owners and workers, and the imposing of collective punishment undermines the rule of law.

Once again, the Nigerian army must understand that addressing individual acts of violence with indiscriminate retaliation against an entire community is unjust and counterproductive.

Development Diaries calls for a thorough, independent, and unbiased investigation into the circumstances that led to the attack on the soldiers. We also call on the army authorities to adopt a more measured and lawful approach in their response to a matter like this, to avoid infringing on the rights of innocent Nigerians.

Civilians should also respect and uphold the dignity and safety of security operatives, as any attack on them is an attack on the nation’s stability and security.

Photo source: Punch