Army denies alleged killing by troops on Kaduna-Abuja highway

The Nigerian Army has denied that its troops killed one person and unleashed terror on people along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, One Mechanised Division, Kaduna, Col. Mohammed Dole, made the denial in a statement yesterday.

He said the allegation by one Major Mohammed Isah Tafoki (rtd) could not be substantiated.

The army spokesman explained that on January 6, 2019, the troops received a distress call that “five Bajaj Motorcycles without registered plate numbers, were heading towards their location with 15 passengers (three on each motorcycle).

“The troops immediately mounted a snap checkpoint at a Filling station near Sabon Gayan town. At about 4:30p.m. the soldiers apprehended the suspected bike riders. They were thoroughly searched and subsequently released, as no incriminating objects or substances were found in them.”

He further stated that when Major Tafoki laid a complaint, alleging the killing of his nephew, an investigation was promptly conducted. The soldiers at the checkpoint were paraded for identification, during which his witness identified the soldiers who conducted the search on the 15 bike riders at the filling station.

Dole explained that the soldiers’ rifles were checked and nothing unusual was detected, since their rifles were not used for firing.

He narrated: “It is instructive to note that, our troops maintain synergy of efforts with other security agencies to keep vigilance along the Kaduna-Abuja highway. Hence any encounter which might have resulted in exchange of fire with adversary, or against suspects would definitely attract the attention of other security agencies.”

He said: “Major Isah should have known that troops could not just open fire on bike riders who willingly obeyed the soldiers’ orders for stop and search.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has commended troops of Operation Lafiya Doyle for liberating Baga from the hands of Boko Haram terrorists, known as Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

In a statement by the group’s Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, MURIC applauded the ground and aerial troops for giving terrorists a bloody nose in the Baga front line.

In another development, Muslim MURIC) called on the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) to call off its lingering strike for academic activities to commence.

Akintola urged the ASUU leadership to consider the plight of the students and state of the nation.

MURIC urges the people to support the military by giving them privileged information as they continue in their onslaught.

He implored the people to support the military by visiting military hospitals and donating blood to save the lives of injured soldiers.