Search for Missing Major General Idris Alkali being Sabotaged in Jos; Chinese Construction Company withdraws over threats – Army.

The Nigerian Army said on Friday that the search for the remains of Major General Idris Alkali, the immediate past Chief of Administration at Army headquarters who is believed to have been killed in Jos, is being sabotaged by some communities in the Paddock general area of Plateau State.

While noting that a Task Force made up of the Army, Police, Vehicle Inspection Officers, Local Divers and the Federal Fire Service was set up to search for the remains of the General in a river where his body is believed to have been dumped, the army vow that the sabotage will not be allowed to hinder the search.

A tweet from Army headquarters twitter handle, ‘Update on Search and Rescue Operations for Maj Gen IM Alkali (Rtd)’ said

“The Nigerian Army in its quest to unravel the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Major General Idris M Alkali (rtd) has been conducting several search and rescue operations around the last known location of the missing senior officer.

“Consequently, the COAS Lt. Gen. TY Buratai constituted a Joint Task Force comprising officers and soldiers from 3 Division Quick Response Team, Operation Safe Haven, Nigeria Police Force, Vehicle Inspection Office, Fire Service, as well as Local Divers.

“Several logistics issues including sabotage from the host communities have hampered the success of the operation.

“Due to the terrain in the general areas of Paddock in Lafendeg Du Plateau State, the task force consulted a Chinese construction company working in that area who promised to assist in drilling out water from the pond where it was suspected that the vehicle belonging to the senior officer was pushed into.

“However, the Chinese company was forced to withdraw from their services due to continuous threats and protest by women in the community clad in black dresses.

“In the midst of this challenge however, the Task Force continued with its search and rescue operation which led to the recovery of an 18-Seater Hummer Bus door.

“This discovery indicates that there could be other vehicles in the same pond hence the continued protest by the community.

“Suffice to add that the Nigerian Army would not relent in its search and rescue Operation until the retired general is found.”

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