- A pond in Jos is being evacuated by the Nigerian Army, in a bid to locate Major General Idris Alkali, who has been missing since September 3
- The Army said it stumbled on some intelligence that made it necessary to search the water body
- Some women in the community have, however, stormed the river to protest the evacuation of the water
The Nigerian Army is evacuating water from a mining pond at Dura, Du District, Jos South local government of Plateau, in search of Idris Alkali, a missing retired major general.
Alkali, immediate past chief of administration, Army Headquarters, Abuja, was declared missing on the 3rd of September. He was on his way to Bauchi after leaving Abuja in the morning, NAN reports.
NAIJ.com gathers that Brig Gen Ibrahim Mohammed, garrison commander, 3 Division Garrison, Nigeria Army, Rukuba, Jos addressed newsmen on Thursday, September 20, shortly after the commencement of the evacuation.
Mohammed, who is the commander of the search and rescue operation, said that after thorough search and investigation, the Army stumbled on some intelligence that made it necessary to search the water body.
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“In carrying out a directive from the Army headquarters, a thorough search was conducted, hospitals were visited, we searched everywhere. Based on credible intelligence, we had to come to this place and we have been here for the last one week.
“We are trying to find three things – an officer, Maj Gen Alkali (rtd), who is still missing, his vehicle, a black Toyota Corrolla, and also ascertain whether Alkali is alive or not.
“We have credible information that some vehicles were pushed into this river and we have been here for the last three days trying to see if we can salvage something from the river. The river is a mining site and therefore very deep. We have used all options but as a last resort, we will evacuate the water from the pond to see what is in it," he said.
Meanwhile, some women, numbering about 500 and clad in black, have stormed the river to protest the evacuation of the water.
Mary Yakubu, leader of the protesters, said that the water had been part of the community over time, adding that it had “a huge cultural significance”.
“If the water is evacuated, it could lead to the death of our sons and husbands,” she claimed.
But Gen Mohammed, in a reaction, said that nothing would stop the Army from evacuating the water. “The only thing that can stop us is a directive from the Army Headquarters," he declared.
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that Major General IM Alkali and the acting general officer commanding, 7 Division Nigerian Army, Brigadier General VO Ezugwu's convoy encountered and cleared 4 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) buried by suspected elements of Boko Haram terrorists along their way from Bama to Gwoza.
They encountered the 4 clustered IEDs buried at a crossing point along Banki Junction and Pulka road, about 6 kilometres to Firgi in Borno state.
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Source: Naija.ng