Plateau residents accuse security personnel of extrajudicial killings

Some residents of Mangu community of Plateau have accused the State own security outfit, Operation Rainbow, of extrajudicial killings in the area.

The residents accused Operation Rainbow of leading mob “to either kill them or burn down their houses”, adding that the killings and attacks continued on Wednesday morning.

One of the residents, Salisu Mu’azu, alleged that gunmen led by Operation Rainbow stormed their community around 9:30 and stated shooting and burning of houses.

“The Operation Rainbow will lead the gunmen. The approach you as if they’re patrolling but that is not true. We are in serious problem,” he told DailyTrust on Wednesday.

Ibrahim Isa, a resident of Anguwan Femawa, also accused Operation Rainbow and mob of invading their community.

“There is lawlessness now in Mangu. Everywhere killings and gunshots. We don’t know how many people have died,” Isa said.

“We have not been able to bury the corpses we have on on ground because of the situation. Now we are recording more deaths.”

Musa Salisu, a resident of Hayi community in Mangu, also decried the activities of Operation Rainbow in his area.

He said: “We are begging the Federal Government to come to our aid. We are being killed, our houses are being burnt. Where is the security in Mangu? Is Operation Rainbow the only force we have to tackle this problem? Personnel of the Operation are only killing us instead of restoring peace.”

However, the Public Relation Officer of the organization, Panam Gongden, denied the allegation.

His words: “Operation Rainbow belongs to everyone and it compromises of conventional police , immigration, Civil Defense and other security agencies. We wonder how some people will be accusing us of taking side.

“The dispatch of personnel is not done base on ethnicity or religion. It is a joined patrol. It is just baseless. People who have lost touch with what they are sent to do will definitely make such accusations.”