Some civil society organisations have dismissed a report claiming that the military killed four persons during the raid on the residence of former House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, in Plateau State, Nigeria.

The coalition of 50 CSOs said the allegation, which was attributed to some persons in Gwafan community, was misleading and could incite residents against the military’s Operation Safe Haven (OPSH).

This was contained in a statement signed by the heads of Initiative For Justice and Equity Africa (INJUEA), Centre for Humanitarian Advocacy (CEHUA), Forum of Plateau Mothers (FOPLMO), and Conscience Youths Network (COYON).

The Nigerian military had said that troops of Special Task Force (STF) of Operation Safe Haven acted professionally within the laws to stop looting at Dogara’s residence, and described the report as ‘malicious and mischievous’.

‘It will not only be morally wrong but also spiritually unacceptable to watch people lie against the security forces who performed excellently during the youth’s restiveness without any human rights violations’, the statement read.

‘Our sources confirmed that contrary to the allegation against Operation Safe Haven, they were very friendly and professional during the raid [on] the former speaker’s residence.

Spokesperson for the police command in the state, Dundai Peters, confirmed the raid on Dogara’s home.

‘A good number of the suspected looters have been arrested and arraigned before a court of law’, Peters said.

‘Apart from the 300 (suspects) that have been arrested by the military, more were arrested. Some were fined N10,000 and more are to be tried’.

‘The house was not vandalised, but looted only’, he added.

Source: The Sun Premium Times

Photo source: Nigerian Army