The Nigerian Army has commenced operations around Lafendeg area also referred to as Dura-Du in Du District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State as it continues its search and rescue operation for retired Major General Idris Alkali who has been missing since September 3.
Daily Trust reports that the army had begun evacuating Du since the retired senior military officer’s vehicle was pulled out of an old mining pond on Saturday evening. Two other vehicles, a Toyota Hiace bus and a Red Volvo, were also evacuated from the pond on Tuesday evening.
However, a Christian-based foundation, Stefanos, yesterday issued a statement saying information from residents of Du indicated that the military had cordoned off the area and were making street arrests, house to house search and that male residents were being taken out and flogged.
The statement which was issued by the Media Officer of Stefanos Foundation, Rachel Noah, partly read: “The military was putting more energy in apprehending a whole community for a crime they might be innocent of while killings in many communities are still ongoing with no single arrest.”
However, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations at 3 Division, Colonel Kayode Ogunsanya in a text message to Daily Trust confirmed that operation had begun in Du but denied any assault or flogging of the people in the area.
Ogunsanya said: “It is normal that when you conduct such an operation, some people will be apprehended. They were screened and sorted out based on the degree of their culpability at the venue. After sorting out, the suspects were later arrested and brought to the barracks for further interrogation.
“The general area around Dura-Du in Jos south local government area of Plateau State has been cordoned off, the aim is to search for the missing retired Major General Idris Alkali dead or alive.”
