Nigerian Police authorities have responded to protests by its men in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, the men merely went to the police headquarters in Borno to make inquiries about the non-payment of their special duty allowances and did not protest.
The statement runs contrary to reports earlier today that the policemen blocked major streets in Maiduguri and shot sporadically into the air to demand payment of their six months unpaid allowances.
Moshood said the delay in the payment was due to the delay in the passage of the 2018 budget.
He said the allowances would be paid as soon as possible since the budget had been given presidential assent.
He said, “Some police personnel on special duty; the ones drafted from other states to prevent crime because of the situation around Maiduguri went to the police headquarters in the state today to make inquiries about non-payment of their special duty allowances.
“Not the officers engaged in war against Boko Haram. These ones are being paid. Since we got the report, we assured them that now the budget has been signed and approved, their allowances will be approved.
“The delay in passage of the budget caused the non-payment but since the budget has been approved, they will be paid. There is no protest. They have all returned to their duty post.”