Banex Plaza was closed by the Army without consulting the Abuja administration or the police.

According to PREMIUM TIMES, the Nigerian Army closed a well-liked commercial centre in Abuja without first informing civil authorities. According to this newspaper, the army declared on Tuesday that Banex Plaza in Abuja's Wuse neighbourhood will be closed. After speaking with the plaza's management about the attack on two troops on the property on Saturday, the army announced that the plaza had been closed. According to Army spokesperson Onyema Nwachukwu, the closure was necessary to enable an examination into the attack. In a democratic country, questions have been raised concerning the army's constitutionality and the announcement, which a human rights attorney has called a violation of "the rule of law."

“Nigeria is not under military rule. You cannot in an attempt to address one issue shut others out of their legitimate businesses," a lawyer says about the shutdown of Banex Plaza.

“I am unaware (of the shutdown of Banex), so I can’t comment on it,” Anthony Ogunleye, the spokesperson of the Federal Capital Territory Administration told PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday night.

Also, Josephine Adeh, the spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, said the police were not involved in the shutdown of the plaza patronised by thousands of people weekly for the purchase of items like mobile phones and other electronics.

“With all due respect, you know very well that the Police are not involved with all this. Channel all your complaints to the military pls,” Ms Adeh responded in a WhatsApp message to a PREMIUM TIMES enquiry.

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