The Nigerian Army has announced the reopening of the popular Banex Plaza in Abuja one week after it was shut down.
Onyema Nwachukwu, director of army public relations, said in a statement that the reopening of the plaza followed a high-level meeting held in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and attended by the FCT Commissioner of Police.
Also in attendance was the Leadership and Management of Banex Plaza, a representative from the Directorate of Abuja Environmental Protection Board, and the National Chairman of the Mobile Phone Traders Association.
On May 18, there was pandemonium at the plaza when some traders engaged two soldiers in a fight.
Witnesses said the soldiers had visited the plaza to complain about a faulty phone, which led to an argument with the traders, and a fight ensued.
The military had taken over the plaza since the attack on its personnel by civilians.
After the incident, many shop owners and traders quickly closed for the day to avoid being caught up in a reprisal attack.
On May 20, some military personnel arrived in about five Hilux vehicles and reportedly shut down the plaza.
However, the army headquarters said the plaza was temporarily shut down to enable the arrest of the hoodlums who attacked two soldiers at the complex.
According to the statement by General Nwachukwu, an agreement was reached after a meeting with the management of the plaza and other stakeholders.
“In response to this incident, a high-level meeting was convened in the Office of the National Security Adviser, including the Principal General Staff Officer to the NSA, the Commissioner of Police FCT, the FCT Director of the Department of State Services, the Leadership and Management of Banex Plaza, a Representative from the Directorate of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, and the National Chairman of the Mobile Phone Traders Association,” the statement read.
He added that the meeting agreed that shop C93, where where the incident happened, should be locked up immediately.
