Soldiers Demand Allowance Before Maiduguri Posting

There was tension at the 55 Battalion Bonny Camp, Lagos on Thursday following the grumbling by 200 soldiers over the alleged non-payment of their three months mission allowances. Our correspondents reliably gathered that the 200 soldiers were part of the 800 troops that just returned from Darfur, Sudan where they had gone to for a peace keeping operation. The soldiers after their return, it was learnt, were redeployed again to the North-East to join the battle against insurgents.

The contingent is said to be led by Lt. Col. H. Dasuki, who unconfirmed sources said, is related to the immediate former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.). They are expected to leave Lagos for Maiduguri on Friday (today).

But our one of our correspondents gathered that the soldiers said they would not proceed to Maiduguri except their allowances for the Sudan operation were paid. This, they argued, would enable them to leave money behind for their families.

The issue had not been resolved as of the time of filling the report. A military source said such posting without payment of allowances was not acceptable to the military high command as it was contrary to a directive from the Defence headquarters.

Reacting to the subtle protest, the Public Relations Officer of the 81 Division, Lt. Col. Kingsley Samuel, said that the soldiers who returned from foreign mission in Sudan were not involved in such a protest. He said that that there was no grumbling whatsoever in the Bonny Camp.

He said, “There is nothing like grumbling in that battalion. It is not true.” Source: PunchNg