Yemisi Izuora
Following brutal military operation in Dura-Du in Jos South Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State over missing Major General Idris Alkali (rtd), the related arbitrary arrests of citizens including the Plateau State Correspondent of Punch Newspaper, Mr. Friday Olokor who was harassed and incarcerated in military custody for about 28 hours, the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos – Nigeria has called on the military authorities to act with civility.
The call by IPC is in respect to media report on infringement of human rights of the citizens – This Day newspaper had reported that Mr. Barde came back Sunday night after spending about 28 hours behind bars over a former Chief of Administration in Nigerian Army, General Mohammed Idris Alkali (rtd), who has been declared missing in questionable circumstances.”
According to Mr. Barde, “On Saturday October 6, 2018, I went to the UBA ATM and did cash transaction and decided to buy Irish potatoes and eggs at the popular ANNE BREEZE RESTAURANT in Rayfield area of Jos. The waiters have not brought my food when soldiers in two lorry trucks (about 30 of them), all masked and armed, swooped on the place, shot indiscriminately at sight and arrested every human being they sighted.”
The Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, reacting to this condemnable act said that, the harassment and illegal detention of Mr. Barde and other members of the public was a gross violation of their fundamental human rights.
“We expect the Army to use their intelligence to carry out their investigation professionally without having to intimidate members of the public or impede on their fundamental human rights. It is disturbing that innocent people are not spared by the cruel method they have adopted in search for the missing General.”