Soldiers burn down houses, school in Taraba

Reports reaching us have it that Soldiers have allegedly burned down a school and some houses in Peva town.

Peva town is a community in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.

According to the residents of the town, many people fled after the attacks and the burning of property belonging to some members of the community.

A resident identified as Nathan Tyozenda said that a school belonging to a businessman in the community named Prince Paul Gaza, was burnt in the early hours of Saturday.

He added that houses belonging to the Chairman of Peva Yam market, Mr. Orhemba, Mr. Iermber Vaatyough, and Prince Iordye Gaza, were burnt by the personnel of Operation Whirl Stroke in the town.

Hon. Peter Suleagbough, the Chairman of Tiv Cultural and Social Association in Takum Local Government Area, decried the incessant attacks and destruction of people’s property in the area.

He said that Gberifan and Tse-Iorver villages were also burnt in a similar manner by the soldiers.

“If they are looking for criminals as they say, why burn down people’s property?

What has a private school and people’s houses got to do with criminals.

The army should be arresting the criminals they are looking for and not burning people’s properties,” he said.

However, when the Commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, Major General Adeyemi Yekini was contacted, he said that the Director Defense Information at the Force headquarters was the right person to respond to media inquiries.

Yekini said,

“The Nigerian Army was a responsible force that acted mainly on intelligence and would not just burn down people’s properties.”