From Yakubu Busari Jos
A widowed mother is grieving for her dead son allegedly killed by soldiers deployed on peacekeeping mission in Plateau State.
Mrs Hanatu Izang, mother of the deceased Benjamin is calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria to give her justice over what she described as the unjustifiable treatment meted to her son.
Eyewitness accounts at the scene of the killing of Benjamin Arum Izang, a 31- years old graduate and volunteer teacher who met his waterloo in Jos North Local Government Council of Plateau State on Tuesday, February, 4, paint a chilling story.
The incident, according to accounts, occurred at about 4 p:m on that fateful day when “ some soldiers allegedly went berserk using hammers and big sticks on the residents in Tina Junction area in Jos.”
A witness told this medium that trouble began for late Izang after an argument erupted between him and a teenage girl over payment for eggs he bought from her.
When payment was being delayed, the lady sought the intervention of a soldier, alleged to be her friend. The soldier, one of the peacekeeping troops stationed at Tina-ata-tar road, in Jos North LGA, took matters into his hand.
Benjamin, on his way back from school where he teaches, was ordered on his phone to report to the military base where a military patrol van picked and whisked him away.
This medium gathered that while at the base the soldier started beating him with stick and hammer on his legs and ribs until he broke down.
In her won version of the story, mother of the deceased, Mrs Hanatu Izang said she was at evening church activity on that fateful day when her phone kept ringing, “as I came back to take my phone, I saw many missed calls and then I immediately called back only to hear a familiar voice telling me to come over to Tina Junction in Nasarawa Gwom.”
She explained that on getting there, “ I saw the crowd that had gathered and they told me “your son was beating to coma by soldiers but one good Samaritan has already taken him to your home.”
“At that time the soldier was still holding one big stick ready to strike if I made any bad comment, but nobody was ready to do so because of the fear of these soldiers deployed from STF to man up security. The have been killings and brutalizing innocent people.”
“On arrival at home I saw Benjamin my son crying and begging me to forgive him that he is dying, so I rushed to asked him what happened but the pain was so severe. His older brother and I had to invited one traditional bone setter who came to the house and gave some help, but he later gave up”.
“All we want is justice because we don’t want this incident to repeat itself. It seems with these soldiers, our children don’t have the right to move about again,” said mother of the slain Benjamin, Mrs. Hannatu Izang.
Late Benjamin
The soldiers after beating her son to coma still wanted her to apologize, she said.
“When I went to the military checkpoint, I saw my son laying on the ground motionless, with one soldier standing on him with a big stick.
“I identified myself as his mother but no one said a word to me. From their body language, it was as though they wanted me to still beg them,” said the 60year-old widow. They gave us a mean look,” added her eldest son, Mr. James Izang who accompanied her.
The late Benjamin Izang was however a peaceful and friendly man, James said.
“Even the lady who reported him has benefited from his benevolence,” he said.
The Afizere Youth Movement, AYM, in Jos North Local Government council of Plateau state have decried the activities of the Operation Safe Heaven, STF, deployed in communities, accusing them of having gone berserk and using hammers during operation to break the legs of youths in the area, alleging that no fewer than 10 of it active youth have died in the process.
The Chairman of Afizere Youth Movement, Comrade Stephen Izang Atsi and his organizing Secretary, Comrade Ajik Amos Ajik made the accusation in a press conference held at the compound of the deceased, late Benjamin Arum Izang on Tuesday.
They said, “what business does the army have in settling civil matters? Who had tried our brother to confirm his guilt? What did he do to deserve such treatment? What happened to our human rights as law abiding citizens of Nigeria?”
The body, Ajik said will head to court soon as autopsy and police reports are ready.
The emotional youth leader said, “The excesses of these STF Officers must be cut down.
“We have heard and seen many more brutal attacks by these men on innocent citizens at the slightest provocation.
“One Dakop from neighboring Jude area of Fudawa community was just discharged from hospital yesterday after being manhandled by these men.
“There have even been instances where they pursue people right into their homes and brutalize or even open fire on them like terrorists when at a time that insecurity is on the rise like this, Nigerians are supposed to be at peace when they see our gallant soldiers.”
The demands of the youths are as good as the slain youth’s family’s.
The Chairman of the Afizere Elders Council, Mr. Ishaya Banyam said the late Benjamin was a volunteer private teacher to many families.
“We looked at him as an asset but now the army have taken him away from us,” Banyam regretted.
The community leader demanded political authorities to investigate and punish the perpetrators of the crime to absolve the country of human rights abuses as alleged by international observers.
In his reaction, Major General Augustine Agundu, Commander of the Operation Safe Heaven, STF, deployed to the state for the protection of lives and properties of the law abiding citizens, absolved the soldiers of any hand in the killing of Benjamin Arum Izang.
He said his men are law- abiding citizens and can’t breach the rule of engagement by killing a civilian.
He noted that the community should have inquired about the real cause of “their son’s offence instead of pointing fingers at the military and wrongly accusing them of being the cause of his death.”
