Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Residents of a community in Plateau State have accused personnel of the Nigerian Army of killing two young men who had been displaced from their homes and firing multiple rounds into residential buildings during a military operation that has left the community in shock and fear. The allegations, contained in a video obtained by SaharaReporters, show a man who said he was privy to the incident taking reporters around the affected community, pointing out bullet holes, damaged homes, and the locations where the two men were allegedly killed. The victims have been identified as Obida Alfred and Bakar Musa, both of whom had reportedly been displaced from their homes in another village in Plateau State.
According to the account in the video, military vehicles entered the area during the operation, with one gun truck becoming stuck in a farm and another armoured vehicle also getting stuck, requiring two tractors to remove it. The man questioned why the military vehicles were operating in the area and allegedly firing towards houses occupied by civilians. "This is a farm that people suffer to farm. This is where the first gun truck got stuck. You can see the tyre mark where it went down," he said, adding, "This is exactly where the second armoured vehicle got stuck. They had to bring two tractors to remove it".
The man alleged that the military operation resulted in bullets being fired into residential buildings. He took the reporter to one of the houses and pointed out several holes in the walls, which he said were caused by gunfire. "You can see the holes. One, two, three, four. From where the gun truck stopped, they were shooting towards the houses," he said. He also pointed out damage to windows and doors, saying residents had been forced to abandon their homes following the incident because they no longer felt safe. "Someone suffered to build this house, but look at what has happened to it. Even inside the house, it is no longer safe. Now they have abandoned the house. They are fleeing because of fear," he lamented.
The man also alleged that a nursing mother who had given birth about two or three months earlier was inside one of the houses when soldiers allegedly opened fire. "She was an innocent mother. She had just given birth not more than two or three months ago. She was here when the shooting happened. It was God that saved her," he said. He further alleged that one of the victims, Obida Alfred, was killed inside a room after soldiers allegedly fired several rounds into the building. "He was killed right here, inside the room. You can see the bullet marks. They shot him with more than four bullets," the man said. He identified the second victim, Bakar Musa, as having been shot and left critically wounded before eventually dying outside the building. According to him, Musa initially survived the shooting and crawled away from the area in an attempt to escape. "You can see his blood. He was crawling to this point. He kept crawling in order to escape, but he saw there was no way out," the man said, pointing to the ground.
The allegations have raised serious questions about the purpose of the military operation and why heavily armed military vehicles were allegedly operating around areas where civilians were living and farming. The residents' accusations come amid ongoing security challenges in Plateau State, where communities have continued to face threats from various armed groups. The Nigerian Army has not yet issued an official response to the allegations, and efforts to reach the military authorities for comment were unsuccessful as of the time of this report. However, the army has previously denied similar accusations in the past, insisting that its operations are conducted in line with established rules of engagement.
The incident has added to the growing tension in Plateau State, where recent attacks have resulted in the deaths of dozens of residents and the displacement of thousands of others. The community now lives in fear, with residents abandoning their homes and uncertain about when they can return. As the investigation into the incident continues, the Nigerian Army is expected to provide clarity on the circumstances surrounding the alleged shooting, while the families of the victims await justice for their loved ones.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments