The Nigerian Army has dismissed allegations that its troops provided cover for attackers responsible for the Palm Sunday violence in Plateau State.
The claim had been made by a youth leader from the affected community, who accused soldiers of shielding those behind the deadly incident.
In a statement, the Joint Task Force (JTF) said it was compelled to respond despite the prevailing atmosphere of grief, to set the record straight and reassure the public.
The JTF Media Information Officer, Chinonso Oteh, explained that troops responded swiftly after receiving a distress call, mobilising to the scene despite the distance from their base.
He noted that by the time troops arrived, the attackers had fled, but personnel acted professionally to prevent further escalation and immediately pursued the assailants.
According to Oteh, four gun trucks were deployed during the operation, which was conducted in line with established military standards, as corroborated by eyewitness accounts and other security agencies.
The military added that a thorough investigation into the allegations found them to be baseless.
“Troops did not at any point provide any form of cover for the terrorist elements who carried out the unfortunate attack that claimed the lives of innocent citizens,” the Army said.
The statement warned that such accusations could damage the relationship between security forces and local communities, as well as affect troop morale.
“The comment is false, misleading, and unfortunate, and it is capable of creating disaffection between the military and its host communities,” it said.
The Army urged members of the public to disregard the allegation and continue cooperating with security agencies by providing credible information to help track down the attackers.
It also assured residents that troops, working alongside other security agencies, had already adopted strategies aimed at identifying and apprehending the perpetrators.
