DHQ to invite Rev. Daluk over accusations in viral video

Kangmwa GofwenJanuary 26, 20242 Mins read321

The Defense Headquarters of Nigeria has said it would invite Rev. Timothy Daluk, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Mangu Local Government Area in Plateau State, over his recent video accusing the army of being complicit in the current violence in the area.

Rev. Daluk, in a viral video, accused the military personnel deployed to Mangu of supervising the killings of Christians and destruction of properties.

He said: “What is happening in Mangu at this particular point in time, the military are the ones sending our people away for the militia to burn their houses.

At this particular point in time, they have sent every Christian away from the new market, thereby leaving the Muslims to come and burn their houses.”

Responding, the DHQ, through the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba said the DHQ was in the process of reaching out to the cleric to substantiate his allegations, Punch report says.

He said, “DHQ is in the process of reaching out to him to come and substantiate the claims. It is not unusual for emotions to cloud people’s judgment when they have been confronted with a very traumatising experience.

“We will get to the bottom of his allegations after we have an audience with him. All the same, the military will continue to discharge its duties professionally and in line with the best international standards.”

However, according to a Human Rights Lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, the military has no power to summon a civilian over critical comments in the media. He said if he committed any offense in his account, they should refer to the police for investigations, adding that the military’s action is an attempt to intimidate the Rev.

“The military has no power to summon a civilian over critical comments in the media. If they feel that he has committed any offense on account of his comments, they should refer it to the police for investigation. Private citizens are not subject to service law.

“The Armed Forces Act does not govern the conduct of civilians. This is just an illegal attempt to intimidate the CAN Chairman. It is shameful that the same military that has failed woefully to foil the endless bloodbath is now hyperactive in their desperation to censor the views of a citizen,” he posted on X.

Meanwhile, the DHQ has said the accusations by Rev. Daluk are malicious, baseless and untrue. The headquarters made this known in a statement released on Thursday, by Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, acting Director Defense Information.

“The attention of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has been drawn to a malicious video made by the Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Mangu Chapter, Reverend Timothy Daluk. The video has been circulating in the media, aiming to malign military personnel deployed to address the security challenges in the Mangu general area.

“The video made baseless and untrue accusations, claiming that the military is biased and supports a particular group against others. We categorically state that these accusations hold no truth, are malicious and lack any reasonable foundation,” the statement read in parts.

The agency assured citizens of its commitment to maintaining peace and security in the country.