On Thursday, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja ordered an immediate investigation into reports of the alleged killing of villagers and the death of 100 cows by troops from Division 1 of the Nigerian Army in the Sabon Birni area of Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
The Nigerian Army has described the reports as disturbing and has pledged to hold any personnel found responsible accountable following the investigation. The Army also extended condolences to the families of the affected residents.
There had been media reports that villagers in the community had accused soldiers of killing three people and over 100 cows during an incident at a local cattle market on Sunday afternoon.
According to the report, eyewitnesses claimed that soldiers opened fire on the locals and the cattle, leading to the deaths of at least three people as traders fled for safety.
However, while reacting to the incident, in a statement made available to defence correspondents in Abuja, the spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Major Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, explained that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, had directed that the incident be thoroughly investigated.
He pointed out that the probe into the incident became necessary as the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria mandates the armed forces to protect lives and property, and as such, it won’t act otherwise.
According to him, ” while the Nigerian Army wishes to sympathise with Sabon Birni community and families of the affected persons, we also wish to state that the allegation will be thoroughly investigated and any personnel found culpable will be appropriately sanctioned.
“It is also necessary to add that the Nigerian Army, which is constitutionally mandated to protect lives and property of the citizenry, can not tolerate doing otherwise,” the senior military officer said.
The army spokesman, who appealed for calm among residents of the area, promised that the report of the investigations would be made public as soon as possible.
“Accordingly, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has directed a thorough investigation into the incident with a view to establishing the immediate and remote causes of the incident and unravelling those behind it.
“We, therefore, appeal for calm and assure the general public that the outcome of the investigation will also be made public.”
The statement reads, “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a disturbing news report with gory pictures and video footage published in some mainstream and social media platforms alleging that troops of 1 Division annihilated 3 persons and some cattle during a recent operation at Sabon Birni in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“While the Nigerian Army wishes to sympathise with the Sabon Birni community and families of the affected persons, we also wish to state that the allegation will be thoroughly investigated and any personnel found culpable will be appropriately sanctioned. It is also necessary to add that the NA, which is constitutionally mandated to protect the lives and property of the citizenry, can not tolerate doing otherwise.
“Accordingly, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, has directed a thorough investigation into the incident with a view to establishing the immediate and remote causes of the incident and unravelling those behind it. We therefore appeal for calm and assure the general public that the outcome of the investigation will also be made public.
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