JOS:Military threatens crack down on civilians

Chief of army staff, Onyeabo
Azubuike Ihejirika
From Seriki Adinoyi in Jos
The military Special Task Force
(STF) on Jos crisis has stated that
it now has the mandate to
crackdown on civilians with all
the necessary force within its
powers, adding that "anybody
testing the might of the STF is
doing so at his/her own peril."
This threat followed the shooting
of three soldiers of the task force
at Dutse-Uku area of Jos, in a
fracas between Muslim and
Christian youths, among whom
one has allegedly died in the
hospital.
In a press statement signed by
the media and public information
officer of the STF, Captain Charles
Ekeocha, the military warned
politicians, traditional rulers,
religious leaders and ward heads
from both sides to talk to their
wards as the STF is now
mandated to use all the
necessary force within its
powers on anybody carrying and
using arms or dangerous
weapons on another person."
The STF lamented: "It has been
observed that everywhere in the
state is infested with weapons.
And sporadic gunshots are heard
both day and night as Muslim
and Christian youths are at each
other’s throat at any the slightest
provocation. These people are
also firing at the members of the
military Special Task Force.
"Three Special Task Force soldiers
are lying critically ill in the
hospital having received gunshot
injuries inflicted on them by the
same people they are meant to
protect."
Ekeocha warned that "whoever
is having the false confidence of
trying their hands on the might
of the Nigerian Military should
retrace their steps as the Special
Task Force will bring her might
to bear on any person or group
of persons".
Meanwhile, about 21 corpses of
Muslims victims from the Dutse-
Uku clash have been reportedly
gathered at the Central Mosque
for onward mass burial. This is
aside from the Christian corpses.
The soldiers allegedly opened fire
on the youths after three of their
colleagues were shot.