Soldiers kill 30 in Plateau to avenge murder of their colleagues

About 30 people were gunned down in Kadarko, Kurmi and Wadata villages in Plateau state when soldiers and officials of the Special Task Force invaded the villages.

The Soldiers were said to have arrived in about 40 trucks and opened fire on innocent people. The House of the traditional ruler, Kadarko, Ponhzi Kadarko, Chief Lot Nde, was also said to have been torched.

According to Punch, the soldiers were on a revenge mission over the alleged killing of four of their colleagues at Angwan Nanmi in Karin Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State.

The Executive Director of Stefanos Foundation, Mr. Mark Lipdo, quoting sources from the said that the soldiers arrived and opened fire on innocent people and burnt houses.

Lipdo said, “ Information says soldiers in over 40 trucks arrived Kadarko, Kurmi and Wadata of Wase LGA in Plateau State today(Saturday) following report of alleged killing of four soldiers at Angwan Nanmi, Karin Lamido LGA of Taraba State.

According to residents, the soldiers arrived and

opened fire on innocent people, burning houses. It is not clear why soldiers would open fire on the people they are supposed to defend.’’

He added, “Sources speculate that it is in retaliation for the killings of their colleagues. Others denied this, moreso that two of the four soldiers killed were even Tarohs from the area. Villagers would rather believe it is a deliberate plan by the outgoing governor to intimidate their area, following the overwhelming votes from the area that changed the results of last election.”

The Spokesman for the Special Task Force, Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, however enied the allegations. He said that the soldiers did not randomly kill people, that the operation was meant to check gunmen who had been terrorising residents and security personnel in the

area.

According to him, following frequent attacks on communities around the Plateau-Taraba border by some militiamen, the STF and soldiers from the 3 Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army had been carrying out operations targeted at flushing out the militiamen, and that soldiers who were working to protect innocent civilians could not turn around to kill the same people.