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 a day before, but the apparent reprisal by the army resulted in the death
of one elderly citizen who was killed in the blaze.
Pictures of his charred body covered in soot
was sent to Premium Times.
Premium Times broke the news of the attack by
irate soldiers who stormed Naka, the headquarters of Gwer West Local Government
Area, burning down residential buildings and commercial stores. Properties and
goods, especially cash crops, estimated in millions were destroyed during the
incident.
Francis Ayagah, chairman of the local
government, had told Premium Times on Thursday afternoon that Nigerian soldiers
were responsible for the arson.
He acknowledged that a soldier was killed in
the community on Wednesday, but said he had been in touch with the commander of
the troops, who were stationed near the town to check ongoing killings linked
to herdsmen across Benue State.
The soldier was said to have been alone when he
was killed in unclear circumstances Wednesday afternoon.
One account said he was roaming on a farmland
near the community and was lynched by hoodlums who mistook him for an attack.
There have been reports that some killers were sighted in military fatigues in
the state over the past week.
Another account said the slain soldier went to
buy bread in large quantity in the community and when asked to identity himself
by curious residents, he declined to do so and was subsequently assumed to be
an attacker and mobbed to death.
Mr Ayagah said five suspects had been arrested
based on information received from the Army, expressing his dismay that the soldiers
could still embark on a rampage across the town despite his cooperation.
Soft taarget.
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