Sunday, 26 March 2017 5:04GMT
The atrocities of the Nigeria military backing Fulani Herdsmen
The terrorist military of Nigeria
"The situation now is such that residents of the town are leaving, while commercial activities have been put to a halt.
The villagers are alleging a conspiracy between the Fulani herdsmen and the soldiers to destroy the town. Many residents were injured on Tuesday by the soldiers' bullets, including a community leader," he added.
However, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 707 Special Forces Brigade, Makurdi, Maj. Olabisi Ayeni, debunked the claim that the pupil was killed by soldiers.
Ayeni, in a statement on Thursday, stated that the vigilantes had mounted an illegal roadblock in the community. He accused them of harassing motorists and other road users, adding that those rescued by soldiers were victims and not suspects.
"Youths in the town mounted an illegal roadblock, especially along the road linking Jato Aka to Taraba State, arresting innocent road users coming into Benue State.
"They detained some visitors, alleging they were Fulani herdsmen. Our soldiers got a distress call and moved there immediately. They were able to rescue seven people and they were moved to our base to ensure their safety.
"At the time of the arrest, they were searched and their vehicles were also searched, but nothing incriminating was found. The police were immediately contacted for further investigation if really they were coming in with arms.
"While this was going on, the youth regrouped in their hundreds and surrounded the military base, demanding that the seven commuters be handed over to them.
"On the refusal of our troops to hand them over, they became aggressive and started throwing stones in our base. They later started firing at the camp. They destroyed our operational vehicles.
"They also killed a boy in the process. Furthermore, they attacked some traditional chiefs and the Sole Administrator of Kwande LGA who came to appeal to them.
"Our troops rescued the chiefs, but one of them was injured. Therefore, the claim that our troops are protecting Fulani herdsmen is not true. The illegally arrested commuters by the youths are not Fulani people; they are innocent Nigerians going about their business peacefully.
"The Nigerian Army has the constitutional responsibility to ensure the safety of all Nigerians. Inasmuch as we share the pains of those youths, we won't allow any Nigerian to be unjustly punished or allow their fundamental rights to be tampered with," the statement read in part.
The spokesperson warned youths against taking the law into their own hands, urging them to report any security breach to the army or the police.
(First published by Odilinet)
The atrocities of the Nigeria military backing Fulani Herdsmen
"The situation now is such that residents of the town are leaving, while commercial activities have been put to a halt.
The villagers are alleging a conspiracy between the Fulani herdsmen and the soldiers to destroy the town. Many residents were injured on Tuesday by the soldiers' bullets, including a community leader," he added.
However, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 707 Special Forces Brigade, Makurdi, Maj. Olabisi Ayeni, debunked the claim that the pupil was killed by soldiers.
Ayeni, in a statement on Thursday, stated that the vigilantes had mounted an illegal roadblock in the community. He accused them of harassing motorists and other road users, adding that those rescued by soldiers were victims and not suspects.
"Youths in the town mounted an illegal roadblock, especially along the road linking Jato Aka to Taraba State, arresting innocent road users coming into Benue State.
"They detained some visitors, alleging they were Fulani herdsmen. Our soldiers got a distress call and moved there immediately. They were able to rescue seven people and they were moved to our base to ensure their safety.
"At the time of the arrest, they were searched and their vehicles were also searched, but nothing incriminating was found. The police were immediately contacted for further investigation if really they were coming in with arms.
"While this was going on, the youth regrouped in their hundreds and surrounded the military base, demanding that the seven commuters be handed over to them.
"On the refusal of our troops to hand them over, they became aggressive and started throwing stones in our base. They later started firing at the camp. They destroyed our operational vehicles.
"They also killed a boy in the process. Furthermore, they attacked some traditional chiefs and the Sole Administrator of Kwande LGA who came to appeal to them.
"Our troops rescued the chiefs, but one of them was injured. Therefore, the claim that our troops are protecting Fulani herdsmen is not true. The illegally arrested commuters by the youths are not Fulani people; they are innocent Nigerians going about their business peacefully.
"The Nigerian Army has the constitutional responsibility to ensure the safety of all Nigerians. Inasmuch as we share the pains of those youths, we won't allow any Nigerian to be unjustly punished or allow their fundamental rights to be tampered with," the statement read in part.
The spokesperson warned youths against taking the law into their own hands, urging them to report any security breach to the army or the police.
(First published by Odilinet)
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