There was shootout between policemen and soldiers in the Borno State Government House, Maiduguri, Thursday afternoon, a report from the area said.

The gun battle ensued “when soldiers in a truck attempted to forcefully get a share of the rice being distributed to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) not living in camps,” according to a report in the online edition of National Mirror.

The report said that the distribution of rice for the IDPs had started from about a week ago under the watch of policemen in the Government House who are to ensure that the rice is given only to people with the required documentation.

“It was alleged that the soldiers who wanted to get from the rice today had been coming to get from the rice since the distribution started without appropriate documentation,” the report said, adding:

“When the policemen refused to allow them to get from the rice today, shootout ensued leaving at least one policeman injured.

“Currently, the policemen are holding two soldiers at the second gate of the Government House, while their soldier colleagues are at the first trying to get them back.”

•Photo shows Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima.