Nigerian Army Responds to Allegations of Involvement in Plateau State Killings

The Nigerian Army has responded to allegations made by Rev. Timothy Daluk, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Plateau State, regarding their involvement in the killings in the area.

Daluk accused the military of permitting the killings of Christians and the destruction of properties in the region.

The situation in Mangu has been dire, with a series of killings since last December. To address the escalating violence, the state governor imposed a 24-hour curfew in the local government area.

However, despite the curfew, the attacks continued, resulting in the tragic loss of over 30 lives.

In a viral video, Rev Daluk expressed his concerns, stating;

I am here to report the situation happening in 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.

Daluk went on to allege that the curfew imposed by the military only restricted movement for people within the Christian community while leaving those in the Muslim community free to move as they wished.

In his words;

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.

He further accused the military of switching off their phones during this critical time.

In response to these serious allegations, the military has termed them as baseless and untrue. The Defence Headquarters has initiated efforts to reach out to Rev Timothy Daluk to substantiate his claims regarding military complicity in the attacks.

Major Gen Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, stated;

It is not unusual for emotions to cloud people’s judgment when they have been confronted with a very traumatizing experience. However, 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 the best international standards.

The situation in Mangu, Plateau State remains deeply concerning, and the response from the Nigerian Army adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing investigations.

It further highlights the need for a thorough and impartial examination to determine the facts surrounding these tragic incidents.

Here is the initial video;