There was palpable tension at the 55 Battalion Bonny Camp, Lagos on Thursday, February 18, 2016 after about 200 soldiers who were part of the 800 who had just returned from peace keeping operation in Darfur, Sudan began grumbling over the non-payment of their three months mission allowances after they were redeployed to the North East to join the war against Boko Haram.
According to Punch, the contingent of soldiers was led by Lt. Col. H. Dasuki, who unconfirmed sources said, is related to the embattled immediate former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki.
It was gathered that the soldiers are to leave Lagos for Maiduguri on Friday, February 19, 2015, although it was reported that the soldiers said they would not proceed to Maiduguri except their allowances for the Sudan operation were paid.
The issue was yet to be resolved as at the press time as the soldiers argued that they need their allowance so as to enable them to leave money behind for their families.
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.
Also reacting to the protest the Public Relations Officer of the 81 Division, Lt. Col. Kingsley Samuel, denied any grumbling among the soldiers in Bonny Camp.
He said, “There is nothing like grumbling in that battalion. It is not true.”
