Mischief makers ‘plotting to create problems’ over missing general

A group known as Plateau Peace and Justice Forum (PPJF) has called on indigenes of the state not to allow some “misguided elements” pitch them against the Nigerian army.

Alexander Mamedu, president of the group, said this while responding to some critical comments over Idris Alkali, a major general who disappeared under controversial circumstances.

Mamedu said the army should be allowed to carry on its search for the senior military officer

“In the course of this distressing search, we have noted the efforts of the Nigerian Army and the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, who has not relented in the commitment to get to the bottom of the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of General Alkali,” Mamedu said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, Nigeria like any other country of the world has its own share of sadists and nihilists who will prey on the sorrows of grieving families to get their daily kicks from tormenting others same way drug addicts crave their fix. It is in this regard that we note the numerous contradictions to instigate a crisis between the Nigerian Army and the people of Plateau state.

“Without any intent to prejudice what the ongoing investigations will find, we find it most inhuman, insensitive and irresponsible that someone has constituted himself into a supreme authority to declare Major General Idris Alkali (retired) dead to an extent that he was already expressing his condolence to the distraught family.”

The group denied that the army is out to harass residents of the state over the missing general.

“It is most unfortunate that this disposition did not allow him to see the sheer bizarreness of his actions, which has every appearance of someone craving human flesh. How else can one describe the obsession that made him to claim that he prompted the investigation that led the Nigerian Army to finding the missing car?” the statement read.

“The alarm we are raising about this individual is not unfounded. We are beginning to see what we fear in the comments reacting to his Facebook posts. The comments clearly show that he is continuing with his objective of instigating the people against the Army and the Army against the people while things have further taken a bad turn with the Berom ethnic nationality in Plateau state becoming the target of hate speech.

“The Army under Buratai has proven to be a friend of the Plateau people and must not allow the activities of a criminal elements to sow any seed of discord between that institution and our people.

“The full investigation that has been commissioned should be allowed to run its course undistracted. We support the investigation and the Army’s quest to unravel the truth. The Army began its investigation long before Idris Ahmed’s contradictions and peddling of falsehood began so we will not set stock in his antics.

“We call on our brethren in Plateau state, home and abroad, to be wary of those that are instigating them to violence. This is a time to allow the relevant agencies do their work. Even when those behind the General’s disappearance would have been apprehended, we call for restraint to allow the law take its course.”