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Thousands of Troops Deployed in Maiduguri Ahead of Jonathan’s Campaign Rally
Thousands of Troops Deployed in Maiduguri Ahead of Jonathan’s Campaign Rally
NEWS
The Nigerian Record
1/24/20151 min read
Thousands of soldiers and newly deployed battle-ready armoured tanks took up positions across Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Saturday ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign visit to the city.
Troops were stationed from the Maiduguri airport along Jos Road, leading to the shutdown of major roads and streets. Soldiers, equipped with new rifles and appearing well-kitted, were positioned roughly five metres apart throughout the city.
The heavy military presence has left many residents uneasy. Several complained that the deployment has made movement around the city extremely difficult and disrupted daily life.
Journalist Kolo Dala told Sahara Reporters that a journey to the Government House in Maiduguri, which normally takes about 15 minutes, took him more than an hour because of the roadblocks and security checks.
Another resident, Yusuf Usman, noted the unusually large number of well-equipped soldiers and police officers. He questioned why such a strong force was not instead directed against Boko Haram to help end the insurgency that has effectively placed Borno State under lockdown.