The VWang Community in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State has called for a stop to the invasion of their villages by troops of Operation Safe Haven at midnight.

The Chairman of Dakunji Concerned Citizens Forum in the community, Pam Lomang; the President/Convener  Vom Patriotic Forum, Weng Longyang, and the Secretary Dakunji Concerned Citizens Forum, Taifas Tok, made the call at a press conference in Jos on Friday.

The community leaders alleged that during the last invasion by troops of Operation Safe Haven at Dakunji village of Turu VWang District, a  former Secretary of Jos South Local Government Area, Davou Nyango, lost his right eye due to the torture he allegedly suffered in the hands of the troops

According to them, the former council scribe was sleeping in his house at Dakunji village when the troops, said to be in search of criminals, broke into his apartment around 2am.

The community leaders said when the soldiers could not find any incriminating material in his house, Nyango  was taken to the headquarters of Operation Safe Haven in Jos where he was tortured and  detained for nine days .

Lowang said, “The soldiers shot sporadically during the invasion of our community, which led to heart attacks on many aged persons who were left battling between life and death after the incident.

“Nyango’s whereabouts was not known and was only discovered around 12pm after  a thorough search that ended at the Headquarters of Operation Safe Haven. He was detained under the custody of the military authorities for nine days without charge or his offence made known to him.”

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The community leaders called on the Chief of Defence Staff to prevail on the Commander of the Operation Safe Haven to investigate the gross abuse of the rules of engagement by the troops. They demanded compensation for the victims.

When contacted, Spokesman for Operation Safe Haven, Major Ishaku Takwa, said, “His (Nyango’s) name was mentioned to our intelligence unit as a close associate of a crime suspect in our custody. And anybody whose name is mentioned in respect of a crime committed must answer to that irrespective of his status in society. And that was why he was arrested and interrogated. But when we discovered that what he was alleged to have done was not true, he was released hale and hearty and he even called back on phone to say that he had arrived in his house.