Operation Safe Haven, a dedicated military contingent entrusted with maintaining order in Plateau State and its vicinity, rebuffs allegations of its soldiers’ involvement in the shooting of innocent bystanders during the recent turmoil in Bokkos Local Government Area.
Maj. Samson Zhakom, the Media Officer for the operation, countered the accusation in a press release issued on Monday in Jos.
The News Agency of Nigeria’s report details claims from the Coalition of Bokkos Ethnic Youth Nationalities, alleging that soldiers shot civilians and increased the vulnerability of residents in the area.
Urging for the dismissal of the Commander of OPSH Step-Up Headquarters 2 in Bokkos, the group lamented that security agencies had failed to subdue the recent wave of violence in certain communities across the council.
However, the media officer denounced the accusation as groundless, emphasizing that its intention was to smear the reputation of the military and other security entities in the state.
He also noted that the claim by the group that security agencies deployed in Bokkos had a confrontation with vigilantes was mischievous, insisting that the personnel were professional while repelling the attack.
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“Security agencies were rather preoccupied with restoring normalcy during the confrontations between different ethnic groups on April 13, 2024.
“Kudos should be given to these troops who remained deployed without break for over 72 hours, ensuring that the high grounds and other vulnerable communities were dominated in a bid to protect law-abiding citizens.
“Also, the use of sophisticated weapons by the acclaimed vigilante was further buttressed by the discovery of 11 rounds of 7.62 mm (special) ammunition in possession of the dead militia, contrary to claims that he was a vigilante who was using Dane gun to protect his community.
“Moreover, the acclaimed vigilante was already dead before the troops arrived in the area, therefore, the allegation of killing of the vigilante is a calculated effort to feign weakness and exonerate the dead vigilante from his participation in the attacks and counter-reprisals,” he said.
Zhakom added that the call by the group for the removal of the military commander in Bokkos was malicious and aimed at dampening the morale of troops in carrying out their lawful duties.
“The call is not unconnected with the increased tempo of operations carried out by troops under the command of the senior officer, which has denied criminal elements on both sides of the divide the freedom of action.
“The desperation of the petitioners may have been aggravated by the impartial stance of the commander during the attack which is already given a religious connotation to stir sentiment and instigate spillover to other parts of Plateau.
“It is of utmost importance to stress the risks associated with desperate attempts to galvanise negative public opinion against security agencies, taking into account the risks it poses