An intense drama played out between some soldiers and policemen during Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo’s working visit to Maiduguri, Borno state capital, on Tuesday.
Osinbajo was in Borno to inaugurate some of the projects executed by the outgoing administration of Kashim Shettima.
However, while Osinbajo, Kashim Shettima, the governor and Usman Durkwa, the deputy governor, were inaugurating a school along Bukumkutu road in the state capital, security operatives attached to them disagreed in public.
Trouble started when Mike Alechenu, garrison commander, operation Lafiya Dole, prevented the vehicles attached to Durkwa to join the convoy of other dignitaries.
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Just as the lead vehicle in the convoy of Durkwa attempted to move, Alechenu used a stick to smash its windscreen.
It was also learnt that he used the stick to hit the driver of the white Hilux van conveying security operatives before ordering his men to deflate the tyres of any of the deputy governor’s vehicles that attempted to “move an inch”.
Complying with his directives, soldiers were seen attaching knives to their Ak-47 riffles.
Also, when the aide-de-camp of Durkwa tried to appeal for calm, Alechennu warned that, “This is a matter of security, you don’t tell me what to do. I’ll bundle and handcuff you if you move an inch from this place.”
Consequently, junior police officers blocked the road in protest.
“You are here trying to intimidate us when you are running away from your responsibility of fighting Boko Haram,” an angry police officer said.
The altercation persisted until the intervention of some operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS.