The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, yesterday dismissed allegations by a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, that troops in Taraba State collided with bandits to escalate killings in the state.
Buratai, who was represented by the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Major General Nuhu Dambazau at the submission of the panel’s report on Danjuma’s allegations yesterday in Abuja, added that the clashes in Taraba State resulted from clan and communal crises that predate the present administration.
Reacting to findings of the panel set up to investigate the allegations, he said, “With respect to the statement by Lt. Gen. TY Danjuma (retired), it is clear that the allegations are not true, hence there is a need to urge caution on the part of the elder statesman in view of the security implications of such comments.”
Buratai stressed that most crises in Taraba State were politically-motivated, and some persons were deliberately escalating the situation for selfish gains. He said the situation in the state had steadily deteriorated largely due to distrust, intolerance, lack of inclusion and accommodation of different ethnic groups.
Buratai commended the investigation panel for doing a thorough job, saying the army will uphold the recommendations of the panel.
The panel revealed instances where locals dragged soldiers outside strict military duties to intervene in civil disputes. It also revealed massive proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the state, some of which were recovered from warring parties, criminal and unauthorised persons.
It recommended that the army devises a means to be independent in its operations across Nigeria to insulate soldiers from the overbearing influence of politicians in government, especially with particular reference to sponsorship of its operations in states.
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