AFRDC: Panic as Presidential Guard Shields Jonathan in Gun Salute Drama

AFRDC: Panic as Presidential Guard Shields Jonathan in Gun Salute Drama

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There was a mild drama and slight panic on Thursday during the 21 Gun Salute of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration (AFRDC) Wreath Laying Ceremony in Abuja, which forced the Presidential Guards to form a protective shield around President Goodluck Jonathan.

The incident happened immediately after Jonathan and other top government dignitaries took turns laying wreaths at the foot of the monument of the 'Unknown Soldier'- a symbolic gesture in honour of the nation's fallen heroes from active military service.

The drama started when one of the soldiers in the Firing party, who unfortunately was on the President’s right side, mistakenly got the butt of his rifle entangled in his military uniform, preventing him from lifting the rifle to his shoulder.

While his scenario was playing out, the President as custom requires, stood in the middle of the firing party made up of personnel from all the three services of the armed forces, and looking straight at the monument of the Unknown Soldier opposite Eagle Square in Abuja.

Fortunately, the eagle-eyed security agents were quick to observe that the rifle had tilted the posture of the soldier, causing the barrel and muzzle of the gun to turn toward President Jonathan who was standing  near the middle of the firing party.

Alarmed, a plain clothed security agent standing behind the firing party immediately intervened from behind the soldier.  Hem at first, tried to correct the soldier’s skewed posture and eventually helped to untangle what may have been the lower sling swivel (rope attached to the butt of the gun) from the soldier’s uniform.

Simultaneously, two Presidential Guards who were standing behind the President’s aide-de-camp (ADC) also moved in quickly to the right flank of the president, placing their body between the President and the soldier, while the 21 gun salute continued as if nothing was at stake.