The people of Dakunji in Vwang District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State have cried out, saying the Nigerian military special task force, ‘Operation Safe Haven’ meant to restore peace in the state has turned against them.
The residents said it was important they cry out because of how the military invaded their villages and illegally arrested Hon. Davou Nyango, former Secretary of the Local Government in the wee hours of Monday 13, September, 2021, and has been detained since then.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday in Jos, the residents alleged that the military burgled the residence of Nyango, arrested and took him to their headquarters in Jos.
Chairman of Dakunji Concerned Citizens Forum, Mr Pam Logyang, while addressing the press conference revealed that sporadic shooting by the military left residents in the community in panic mood because they thought they were kidnappers.
They said: “On the midnight of September no13, the military without prior notice or warrant of arrest, went to the residence of Nyango who was a former transitional Secretary of Jos South, broke into his house and took him away.
“The unholy act has caused Panic in our community, where innocent villagers are currently living in fear and many are terrified as a result of the nervous shocks they received from the invasion.
“The military shot guns sporadically on air which led to heart attacks on many aged persons who are battling between life and death at the aftermath of the incident.”
According to the Chairman, Nyango has been detained for nine days without bail, adding that he was brutalised leading to the damage of his right eye.
He added that the incident has left both the victim and the community physically and emotionally traumatised.
They called on the military to repair Nyango’s house and release him to go for medical attention as a result of injuries inflicted on him by the soldiers.
They called on the military command to stop the operatives of Safe Haven from invading their communities any longer, adding that if there were any issues, elders and stakeholders of the community were available for discussion.
Logyang said the community has pledged to work cordially with the military, adding that all military actions must be in accordance to constitutional and military extant law.
“Hon. Nyango was in the military custody and was beaten and in the process had his right eye wounded. The most annoying aspect was that the military refused to charge or arraign Nyango to court for over eight days while in the military custody.”
Spokesman of the forum added that, “constitutionally, the fundamental rights of Hon. Nyango has been grossly infringed upon and we immediately ask the Chief of Defense staff and the Chief of Army Staff to direct the GOC and Commander Operation Safe Haven to thoroughly investigate this gross abuse of rules of engagement and accordingly compensate the community and the victim for their overzealousness.”
Reacting, the Military Information Officer, Major Ishaku Takwa confirmed the arrest and detention of Mr Nyango but said he was never brutalised by the operatives as alleged.
The military said he has been released having not found culpable in the crime allegation against him.
