The Nigerian Army has announced the reopening of Banex Plaza in Wuse 2, Abuja, following its closure after an attack on soldiers on May 18, 2024. The plaza was shut down after soldiers, accompanying a customer with a complaint about a phone purchase, were attacked by hoodlums.
Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed the reopening in a statement. He said the decision was reached during a high-level meeting in the Office of the National Security Adviser, which included the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the FCT Director of the Department of State Services, and other security officials.
"The Nigerian Army wishes to provide the latest update on the recent unfortunate event involving an unprovoked attack by unidentified hoodlums on Nigerian Army personnel at Banex Plaza, Wuse, Abuja, which occurred on Saturday, May 18, 2024, leading to the closure of the Plaza on Sunday, May 19, 2024," the statement read.
Key resolutions from the meeting included the immediate reopening of Banex Plaza, the closure of Shop C93 where the attack took place, and the arrest of the shop owners involved in the incident. Market leaders were also urged to remain vigilant and report any remaining perpetrators to the authorities.
Two suspects connected to the attack have been handed over to the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police for further action. The Army will also investigate the circumstances surrounding the soldiers' presence at the plaza and the subsequent attack.
Major General Onyema Nwachukwu advised the public to exercise caution when dealing with military personnel and to use established channels for reporting grievances. He emphasized that acts of violence against military personnel threaten national security and public order.
The Army remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens and will continue efforts to prevent such incidents in the future.
The FCT Police Command had earlier deployed officers to Banex Plaza following a conflict between traders and soldiers, which was widely circulated on social media.
