Six people were killed after soldiers in pursuit
of Boko Haram insurgents attacked and
completely razed Mundu village in Bauchi
State, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.
In an attack that lasted two days, the soldier
arrived the village, situated within the Lame-
Burra forest reserve, on Saturday, December 6
in a convoy of about 20 vehicles, killed anyone
in sight and burnt down the community.
A PREMIUM TIMES reporter, who visited the
village days after the attack, saw burnt
homes, shops, grain silos and other structures
belonging to the villagers.
The remains of those killed had been buried,
villagers said.
Residents, most of whom are now taking
refugee in neighbouring villages, told our
reporter that villagers initially fled when a
military helicopter was seen hovering over
the village few hours before the attack.
PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the soldiers burnt
the first half of the village on Saturday before
they returned the next day to raze what was
left of the settlement.
Villagers, who returned on Monday to
scavenge whatever was left of their
belongings, told this newspaper that they
found the bodies of six people.
Among them were two mentally challenged
people, a blind man and two strangers passing
by in a motorcycle at the time of the
operation.
The burning of Mundu is yet another episode
in the long history of extra-judicial killings
and torture of civilians by the military.
Allegations of widespread torture and killings
against the military has gotten worse since
the declaration of a State of Emergency
following its war against Boko Haram
insurgents in the North East.
Last August, global human rights organisation,
Amnesty International, published a gruesome
video of soldiers beheading men suspected to
be captured Boko Haram fighters.
A report by the same organisation, released in
September, revealed that thousands of
Nigerians are illegally detained, tortured and
some killed in various detention centres
operated by security forces.
Unfortunately, despite overwhelming evidence
of extra-judicial killings and human rights
violations, the military is yet to bring anyone
to book for the crime.
Nigerian military authorities are in the habit
of exonerating accused soldiers before
promising to investigate the allegations. A
promise they hardly honour.
Following the destruction of Mundu,
inhabitants of neighbouring villages told our
reporter that they now live in constant fear as
the military may decide to attack their homes
next.
The Nigerian military wouldn’t comment for
this story.
A Captain Olukoya, the spokesperson of the 33
Artillery Brigade, whose personnel allegedly
carried out the operation, directed all
enquiries on the matter at the Defence
Headquarters in Abuja.
The spokesperson of the Defence
Headquarters, Chris Olukolade, a Major
General, could not be reached on telephone.
He is said to be travelling abroad, and is yet
to respond to a text message sent to him three
days ago.
The spokesperson of the Army Headquarters,
Brigadier Olajide Laleye, did not answer or
return calls. He is also yet to respond to a text
message sent to him three days ago.
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