Plateau Wants Troops Probed As Gunmen Kill 30

The Plateau State Government has called on the military authorities to probe the allegation of bias levelled against troops in the Mangu Local Government Area, where 30 persons were killed on Wednesday.

The Plateau State Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, who made the demand in an interview on Wednesday, also appealed to the people of the state to embrace peace.

The development followed the allegations by the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the Mangu LGA, Rev Timothy Daluk, and the Director of Public Affairs, Mwaghavul Development Association, Lawrence Kyarshik, that the military aided the attackers who torched several houses and destroyed properties during the violence.

The Christian body and the MDA questioned the failure of the troops to stop the killings and also demanded the withdrawal of the military from the crisis area.

Speaking on the allegation levelled against the troops, the commissioner stated, “I did not personally go to Mangu but we want the security agents to look into such allegations and make sure that people don’t feel cheated or feel they have taken sides already. The idea behind them going to Mangu is to stop the insurrection and carnage. We cannot have our communities going through these things over and over again.”

The Defence headquarters could not be reached for an explanation on why the attack occurred despite the deployment of troops in the local government area.

The Director, Media Operations, Maj Gen. Edward Buba, did not respond to calls seeking his comment. He had yet to respond to a message sent to his phone.

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 Local Government Area of the state.

The latest attack is happening one month after 195 persons were gruesomely massacred in the Barkin Ladi, Mangu, and Bokkos LGAs of the state last Christmas Eve.

About 221 houses were burnt, including other properties worth millions of naira. (Punch)
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