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Taraba women protest alleged army brutality, call for scrapping of operation Ayem Akpatuma

By Charles Akpeji, Jalingo
14 April 2018   |   3:49 am
Takum Council, the country home of the former minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) in Taraba State was yesterday taken over by women, who the throng the streets in their numbers to protest against what they described as “army’s brutality” of innocent citizens.

Nigeria Army.Photo: TWITTER/ HQNigerianArmy

Takum Council, the country home of the former minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) in Taraba State was yesterday taken over by women, who the throng the streets in their numbers to protest against what they described as “army’s brutality” of innocent citizens.

The protest, which began at about 9a.m., took off from Takum Roundabout and ended up at the major gate of the 93 Battalion, located in Takum metropolis.

Led by Esther Yakubu Sule, the women called for the immediate end to Operation Ayem Akpatuma in the area for allegedly “not living up to expectations.” Armed with placards of various inscriptions, the women called on the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, “scrap Operation Ayem Akpatuma,” citing “unlawful arrest and detention of Takum youths” by the Army.

The women, during the peaceful protest, vowed to continue to resist the “ungodly activities of the Army” drafted to the area, pending when the federal government deems it fit to withdraw them.The protesters, all wearing black attires, alleged that the military was collaborating killer herdsmen in the area.to trampled on the fundamental rights of the people and called on human rights organisations and the Amnesty International (AI) to as intervene “before these people, who are supposed to protect our lives and properties, wipe us from the surface of the earth.”

They demanded the immediate release of the arrested youths, vowing not to leave any stone unturned until their demands are met by the federal government.

Chairman of the council, Shiban Tikari, urged the people of the council not to depend on the army for protection, adding: “Though they don’t have AK-47 or any gun and ammunitions to defend ourselves, but I have instructed my people to embrace the traditional method of using sticks and stones to defend themselves, because these soldiers drafted here have failed us.”At press time, the women were still hanging out at the gate of the army barrack, vowing to remain there until the Commanding Officer of the Battalion addressed them.

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