Guards form human shield around President Jonathan, as soldier fiddles with his gun at wreath laying ceremoney

A member of the elite Guards Brigade   caused a minor stir during the wreath laying ceremony for the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebrations by President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja yesterday (Thursday).

 

The guard, who was part   of the two columns of soldiers drafted to form the firing party for the   event, was seen fidgeting with his gun which got stuck in the back of his belt.

 

In the   process,   the nozzle of the gun lowered, prompting two members of the Presidential Guard, who were standing behind the President’s Aide-de-Camp, who felt he had a negative intention, to form a human shield around the President.

 

Another officer, believed to be a member of the Presidential Guard, quickly moved to pull the soldier from the column, but had a rethink after explanations by the soldier about his problem.

 

The Presidential Guard then assisted the soldier to release the rope attached to the butt of the gun from his uniform.

 

Information gathered states that the bullets that are normally used in such occasions are normally blanks and do not have capacity to inflict life threatening injuries

 

The event which held at the cenotaph opposite the Eagle Square at the Central Area, was attended by the top echelons of the security forces and government officials.