Why Benue community was set on fire – Army

The Nigerian Army has explained what led to the burning down of a Benue community by its troops on Wednesday, saying the attack followed the killing of one soldier by some residents.

The soldier was allegedly buried in a shallow grave, but the reprisal by the army resulted in the death of one elderly citizen.

Chairman of the local government, Francis Ayagah, told Premium Times that Nigerian soldiers were responsible for the arson.

He acknowledged that a soldier was killed in the community on Wednesday, adding that five suspects had been arrested based on information received from the Army.

Olabisi Ayeni, a spokesperson for the Nigerian Army 707 Special Forces Brigade in Makurdi, identified the slain soldier as Danlami Gambo, a private.

“On 18 April 2018, at about 3:30 pm, troops of 707 Sf Brigade deployed at Naka in Gwer West LGA of Benue State observed the absence of PTE Danlami Gambo from his duty post. The soldier’s rifle was however found at the location.

“It was gathered that the soldier was last seen receiving a phone call, but left in search of network and did not return. Troops immediately conducted patrols to search for the soldier. During the search, at about 6.10 pm, our troops observed blood stains along a footpath leading to a newly dug grave.

“They immediately dug out the grave and the dead body of the missing soldier was found butchered. The corpse was later exhumed and deposited at the Nigerian Air Force mortuary, Makurdi.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that some locals were involved in the killing of the soldier, which has led to the arrest of some suspects by a team dispatched from the unit to the scene of the incident,” Ayeni, a major, said in a statement.

He, however, failed to say whether the soldiers who participated in the reprisal attack that left a senior citizen killed would be punished for the criminal offence.

Governor Samuel Ortom is on an annual vacation in China. But his deputy, Benson Abounu, who has been acting as governor, would tour Naka to assess the damage by the soldiers today, Ayagah said.

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