“We have also arrested five soldiers for ‘laxity’ during the attacks. They have been locked up and are being investigated.
“They shall be court-martialed if we found them truly culpable,’’ the spokesman for the Special Task Force (STF) charged with maintaining peace in Jos, Captain Charles Ekeocha, said.
Ekeocha told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos, on Wednesday, that the attacks carried out by unidentified persons between 1.00 a.m and 2.00 a.m left some 13 people dead and many others injured.
He confirmed that the soldiers were just few metres away from the scene of the attack, but chose to be unconcerned and “refused to act as expected.”
The military spokesman said that the authorities were shocked by the soldiers’ behaviour and reported the matter to the Defence Headquarters, who ordered their arrest, detention and investigation.
“That prompt action only shows that the military authorities cannot condone such behaviour by its men. If they are indicted, you can be sure that they shall be dealt with decisively,” he said.
Ekeocha, however, rejected the suggestions that the soldiers took part in the killings, adding that “they could not have done that.”
He also denied allegations that soldiers were using maximum force on helpless civilians and also dismissed as “simply impossible,” allegations that the soldiers were biased in the handling of the crisis.
“When we deploy men, we do not bring religious or tribal sentiments into it.
“Each team has soldiers of all faiths and tribes; so the idea of taking sides cannot arise,” he said.
Ekeocha also denied allegations that the identity card of a soldier reportedly found at the scene of the attacks was a confirmation that the soldiers were involved.
He said the STF had also recovered five bodies of people reportedly killed in Mangu Halle on their way to a wedding, adding that their remains had been deposited at the NAF Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) has attributed the frequent crisis in the state to the complicity of the men of the STF, saying that the solution to the impasse is total withdrawal of the military men.
Addressing newsmen in Jos, the state chairman of CAN, Reverend Mwel-bish Dafes, said there were enough evidence to justify the complicity of the STF men in the crises rocking Jos and its environs.
Reverend Dafes said the attack on Luxury bus heading to Gombe on Bauchi road in Jos last Saturday was carried out in the presence of the STF men without any attempt to save the situation.
“The STF has proved that they cannot handle the crisis. The best thing is for them to leave if they cannot handle the situation and give way to the police to take over the situation.
”We make bold to say that if the government is desirous of a state called Nigeria; we must avoid paying lip service to security situation in Plateau,” the cleric said.
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