The Nigerian Police Force on Thursday said it recovered no fewer than ten corpses in various locations in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State on Thursday.
This was as the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Rev Timothy Daluk, said he would not withdraw the allegations against troops on the crisis nor would he honour any invitation by the military.
The Chairman of the CAN, Rev Daluk, was invited by Defence Headquarters over his recent comment against the military on the killing in Magu.
Recall armed men had on Wednesday morning launched a fresh attack in the state, killing no fewer than 30 victims in Kwahaslalek village in the Mangu LGA of the state. More than ten people were also killed in Mangu town and environs with several houses burnt by the attackers the same day.
Rev Daluk had accused the Nigerian military of supervising the killings of Christians and the destruction of properties in Mangu LGA.
In the viral video, Rev Daluk said, “I am here to report the situation happening in the Mangu Local Government for the whole world to understand. What is happening in Mangu at this particular point in time, the military are the ones sending our people away for the militia to burn their houses.
“At this particular point in time, they have sent every Christian away from the new market, thereby leaving the Muslims to come and burn their houses.”
The DHQ on Thursday said it would request to meet with the Chairman of the CAN in the Mangu LGA of Plateau State, Rev Timothy Daluk, over his comment against the military.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba said the DHQ was in the process of reaching out to the cleric to substantiate his allegations.
He said, “The DHQ is in the process of reaching out to him to come and substantiate the claims. It is not unusual for emotions to cloud people’s judgment when they have been confronted with very traumatising experiences.
“We would get to the bottom of his allegations after we have an audience with him. All the same, the military will continue to discharge its duties professionally and in line with best international standards, please.”
Similarly, the DHQ, in a statement, denied the allegations by the cleric, describing them as baseless and untrue.
The statement by the Director, of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, partly read, “The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a malicious video made by the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Mangu Chapter, Rev. Timothy Daluk.
“The video made baseless and untrue accusations, claiming that the military is biased and supports a particular group against others. We categorically state that these accusations hold no truth, are malicious and lack any reasonable foundation.”
He said troops of Operation Safe Haven were deployed after there was a breach of security in the Mangu LGA which resulted in the declaration of a 24-hour curfew.
CAN’s reaction
Reacting to the DHQ invitation the Christian Association of Nigeria on Thursday said it was ready to defend the claims that the military was aiding killings in the state.
In an interview with The PUNCH in Jos on Thursday, the state chairman of CAN, Rev Polycarp Lubo said the association stands with the claim against the military made by the Mangu chairman regarding the killings.
Lubo said “As an association, we stand by him (Daluk). He is an adult and he is a leader in Mangu. He knows what he has seen and he said he has evidence. He has reasons why he has said so. So, we can not change what he has said “
Asked whether the CAN leader has been invited by the military to defend the allegation, Lubo said “ No invitation yet. But, we will stand by him”
Also, the Mangu CAN chairman, Rev Daluk said he would not withdraw the allegations against troops on the crisis.
He said, “We are not withdrawing our allegations. And I don’t see the reason to honour any invitation by the Defence Headquarters. They should be the ones to come down to Mangu and see for themselves. The evidence is there, graves are there.”
Taking about the allegations, he said, “Before my eye, a soldier shot dead one of my people. I called others and reported them they said the soldier was a fake troop. Whether fake or what they (the soldiers) are the ones responsible for differentiating.”
Daluk said the moment the situation was calm and if it should continue like this, his people would be law-abiding and would not cause any breakdown of the law.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 4, Ebong Eyibio speaking on Thursday while briefing journalists at the Police Command headquarters in Jos said nine suspects have also been arrested in connection with the violence.
According to the AIG, additional police personnel had also been deployed to the troubled LGA as part of efforts to contain the situation.
He said, ‘‘On 24/01/24 at about 2200hrs, we received intelligence concerning an attack which was targeted on the Ntam community and the ASTC Company, both of Mangu LGA. Our team of agile Police officers from the IGP Special Intervention Squad stationed at the ASTC in conjunction with Area Commander Pankshin and the DPO swung into action and thwarted the attempted attack.