Plateau Killings: Military Chasing Shadows Not Suspects, HURIWA Alleges

A Civil Rights advocacy Group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has said the Nigerian military is more concerned about organising inter-village meetings between the villagers and the Fulani settlers than going after terrorists that have been killing citizens, describing it as chasing shadows.

HURIWA said it was shocking that the Nigeria Army in Plateau State has abdicated its responsibility and is rather advancing inter-ethnic harmony instead of focusing on defending the territorial integrity of the country.

A statement sent to THE WHISTLER on Sunday by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko said, “The call that was made by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division Nigerian Army (NA) and Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, during a stakeholders engagement with the elders of Butura Community in Bokkos LGA at Maxwell Khobe Cantonment Jos, which spoke to the issue of inter-ethnic harmony, good as it is, appears to be diversionary.

“We are in no way against holding meetings with communities towards achieving peace-building efforts but that is not the fundamental duty of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the group argued.

Recall while briefing the GOC concerning recurring Plateau killings, the District Head of Butura, Dr. John Gabriel Makwal, who led the Butura elders delegation to the meeting, expressed his gratitude to 3 Div and OPSH for their tireless effort towards restoring security to their communities.

Speaking through the National President of the Association, Mr. Philip Julson, the District Head noted that the deployment of more troops and enablers in the affected communities gave the people hope and confidence in the security agencies, hence making the displaced persons return to their various communities.

He equally appreciated the OPSH for providing succour to the communities affected while soliciting increased security presence in some of the vulnerable villages and the establishment of a military–civil relations committee in the district to enhance a cooperative approach to dispute and conflict management as the harvest season approaches.

Responding, the GOC assured that the military will continue to support and protect the lives and property of the citizenry, welcoming the idea of establishing a civil – military relations outfit in the district; stating that such will enable the hunters and civil security outfit to cover some areas where security agencies were not present.

Abubakar also assured them of the resolve of 3 Division/OPSH to address all the security challenges using both kinetic and non-kinetic efforts in the state, urging them to report every security issue to the sector headquarters utilising the new toll free lines for prompt action.

HURIWA however stated that although it wasn’t against the promotion of civil-military relations but that these partnership for stability and security can best be achieved if there are empirical evidence to demonstrate that those who committed genocidal killings in Plateau State no matter their ethnicities or religious beliefs, are arrested, prosecuted and sanctioned to show that nobody is above the law.

“Whereas it is our best of intentions that the objectives of civil-military relations are actualised as soon as possible in Plateau State and all parts of Nigeria, but it is our deepest conviction that the armed forces and police should be more focused and directed towards preventing genocides, preventing mass killings, kidnappings for ransom and checking the infiltration of armed non-state actors into the Country.

“We think that if the Nigeria Army in Plateau State should work with all stakeholders in the security forces such as police and DSS to go after terrorists and arrest them for swift prosecution and punishment, only then can the goals of civil-military relations be best accomplished.

“Those who slaughtered Plateau State natives sometimes on December 24th should be arrested, prosecuted and punished. Those who Head security institutions must be held accountable. This is how democracies everywhere work,” HURIWA said.