The DHQ said it remained committed to fostering peace and stability in Plateau State.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said the allegations that soldiers were assaulting women in Plateau State are false.
More than 100 persons were killed on Christmas Eve when terrorists invaded some communities in Plateau.
The attacks have seen an influx of security operatives in the state. However, a video circulating on social media alleges women in Plateau State were being maltreated by soldiers attached to Operation Rainbow.
Reacting to the allegation, the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, on Saturday noted that the video in circulation was an incident that took place in Borno State in 2021.
He noted that the soldiers involved in the act were adequately punished.
The statement read, “It has come to our attention that the video in question actually originated from an incident that took place in Sambisa Forest in 2021, involving the spouses of Boko Haram members during the capture of strongholds of the Boko Haram insurgents, and not in Plateau State as falsely claimed.
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“DHQ wishes to clarify that the soldiers involved in the aforementioned incident were then promptly sanctioned and dealt with by the military authority at the time it occurred for their unprofessional conduct.
“The dissemination of this old video, with a misleading location tag, is causing unnecessary alarm and has the potential to exacerbate the security situation on the Plateau.”
He urged those behind the circulation of the video to stop, noting that their actions could worsen the security challenges in the state.
“We urge the individuals responsible for recirculating this video to desist from further dissemination, as their actions are only serving to add fuel to the security challenges currently being addressed by Operation Safe Haven. Our forces are actively engaged in aggressive operations and are dedicated to bringing the perpetrators of recent dastardly acts to justice.
“DHQ remains committed to fostering peace and stability in Plateau State and we call on all stakeholders and members of the public to support our efforts by refraining from spreading misinformation that could undermine our collective goal of ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents,” the statement added.