Jonathan protected by Guards to avoid gun shot from a Soldier

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 on 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 as it got stuck in the back of his belt, close to President Jonathan.

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 something can go wrong , to form a human shield around Jonathan.

Another officer, believed to be a top 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.

However, Jonathan, who was in the middle of the two rows of the firing party in front of the Monument of the Unknown Soldier, didn't look ruffled by the incident.

After the stir which occurred on the third and last round of the shooting of the 21-gun salute later, Jonathan freed the traditional white pigeons from a huge cage at the cenotaph.

He later signed the 2015 Register for celebrations.

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.