The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division, Nigerian Army, Jos, Brig.-Gen. Benjamin Ahanotu, has indicted politicians in Taraba in the recent killings which led to destruction of lives and property.
This came as the Police put death toll from the crisis between the Fulani and Mambilla ethnic groups in Sardauna Local Government area of the state at 18.
Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo last Thursday ordered the deployment of an extra military battalion, police reinforcements and also a deployment of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps to the areas affected.
On Saturday, Gen. Ahanotu appealed to politicians to be neutral and fair over the current crisis.
He spoke when he addressed the Chairman of Sardauna Local Government, Mr John Yep in Gembu, Taraba, on Saturday. Hide quoted text
Ahanotu said from the briefs he got from the Brigade Commander of 23 Brigade, Yola, Brig.- Gen. Bello Mohammed, proved that prominent politicians from the area played roles that fuelled the situation.
Ahanotu lamented that the carnage being perpetrated in the area would not have escalated if the politicians had acted justly in dealing with the situation.
He warned that soldiers deployed to the area ”should not be dragged into politics. They are only there to restore peace”.
Earlier, Gen. Mohammed said officials of the local government were frustrating the efforts of the army to reach the hinterland where most of the havoc was being perpetrated.
He added that in spite of the ongoing crisis, no prominent politician had come over to the area to help in calming the situation.
“No member of the national or state assembly has come home despite the fact that they would have assisted in controlling their people,” Mohammed said.
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