Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has denied the alleged massacre of civilians in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State by troops of Operation Whirl Stroke operating in the area.
Acting Director Defence, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, who disclosed this in Abuja, explained that there was never a massacre, as being touted by some “mischief-makers.”
The Nigerian Army had, Thursday night, issued a statement confirming the killing of one officer and 10 soldiers in Konshisha by bandits.
The statement issued by the Director, Defence Information, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, said beyond killing the soldiers in cold blood as they approached the area to quell a communal clash, the bodies of the 11 soldiers were burnt beyond recognition.
Thereafter Social media was awash with pictures of about 200 houses destroyed and claims of the killing of 51 civilians during a military invasion of Konshisha.
Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom once again appealed to military authorities to observe a ceasefire in the ongoing operation in parts of Konshisha.
Ortom, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, said the appeal became necessary to prevent the loss of more innocent lives in the affected communities.
He sympathised with victims of the crisis, assuring the people that his administration would ensure that no more lives are lost.
