A Nigeria-based civil society group, Probitas has condemned the alleged invasion by the Nigerian Army of the Dura Du community in Jos South local government of Plateau state.
This was contained in statement issued Thursday by the Communications Director of the NGO, Amaka Nwankwo.
The soldiers were reported to have stormed the community three days ago, allegedly claiming that they were searching for a missing retired General, Idris Alkali, who was reportedly last seen near a pond in the area.
“Probitas questions the legality of this action, which is capable of causing the loss of lives and property in an already volatile community.
“The Nigerian Army must respect jurisdictional boundaries. The disappearance of a retired General is purely a criminal matter meant to be investigated by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and not the Nigerian Army. The fact that Mr Alkali is a former Major-General, does not give the army the right to usurp the powers of the Nigerian Police.
“This mission is being headed by Brigadier-General Umar Mohammed, the Chief of Staff of Operation Safe Haven. Brigadier-General Umar Mohammed’s unilateral decision to drain a local pond, revered by community members, must be resisted by the government, civil society and environmental activists.
“The right thing would be to hand this matter over to the police and to take into consideration the concerns of locals who fear that the army is planning a full-scale desecration of their community. The authorities must consider other alternatives to draining the community’s pond such as using deep sea divers and underwater cameras,” Probitas stated.
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