A group of Plateau clerics has advocate the need for the withdrawal of Soldiers, who are on peace keeping mission in the state for alleged lack of professionalism.
The group, “Plateau Indeginous Christian Minister Forum” (PIMFO) made the call yesterday, in a press release, signed by it chairman Tongsmangs Dasbak, in Jos, Plateau state capital.”
“To this end there is need, an urgent one for that matter, to recall all the Military people back to their barracks, or they should be replaced by an International Peace Team that will be seen to be credible and unbiased.”
The clerics lamented that the presence of the special taskforce on Jos over the crisis has not yielded the desire result.
“It noted with dismay the fact that all these years that the Special Task Force (now, Operation Safe Haven) has been in existence on the Plateau, the crisis leading to Sacking /Taking over of ancestral lands and Communities still continuous unabated since 2001.Those who invaded, (and kill are still invading) the communities to kill and destroy houses and farm crops and have seldom been arrested and prosecuted.”
The group rose from it congress meeting and faulted a alleged comment made by the minister of interior, who purportedly blamed the protracted civil unrest in Plateau state on inability of Plateau elders to curtail loss of lives and property.
“Whatever evidence(s) Lt. General Buratai has against the elders of Plateau, whoever they are should have been better handled in the court of Law rather than making conclusive statements. In any case, the COAS has pronounced a conviction.”
On the arbitrary arrest of innocent citizens by military over the missing Army General, the group said it was an abuse of human right.
“The army itself has admitted that many have been taken to the military barracks, for only God knows what. And we fear that their fundamental rights to fair hearing could be trampled upon in the course of further investigations,” they said.
