The Army has refuted a social media claim by a youth leader from Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area, that troops provided cover for attackers during the Palm Sunday massacre that killed 28 people.
The Joint Task Force (Operation Enduring Peace) spokesman, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, stated on Tuesday that troops acted professionally and did not aid the assailants at any point.
“On receiving a distress call, troops swiftly mobilized to the scene, which was far from their deployment area. They observed that the attackers had already fled. Troops acted professionally to avert further bloodshed and pursued the fleeing criminals,” the statement read.
The army further stated that four gun trucks were dispatched to the area, and the troops’ actions were confirmed by other security agencies and eyewitnesses. An internal investigation determined that the claim was false.
“The comment by the youth leader is false, misleading, and unfortunate. It is capable of demoralizing troops and creating tension between the military and the host community,” he said.
He called on the public to disregard the claim, remain calm, and support security forces with credible intelligence to help apprehend the perpetrators.
“The troops, in collaboration with other agencies, have adopted effective strategies to identify and bring the attackers to justice. They will continue to act decisively while maintaining peace in all parts of Plateau State,” Captain Oteh added.
The terrorists attack in Angwan Rukuba led to the deaths of no fewer than 28 people.
