Air Force Operatives Enforcing Curfew in Niger, Turned Against Residents

Yusuf Makeri, a resident of New Bussa inBorgu Local Government Area of Niger State was one of the victims of Saturday’s night invasion by men of the Nigeria Air Force who were enforcing a curfew in the community.

WikkiTimes learnt the operatives brutalised a few residents and shot live ammunition to scare them away. Unfortunately, a bullet hit Makeri on his leg. He’s currently bedridden in a hospital.

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On October 30, 2022, military operatives thwarted a bandits’ attack on the community. As part of proactive measures to check further incursions, a curfew was set up between 9 pm – 6 am.

A resident told WikkiTimes that some residents are not complying with a curfew and that angered the soldiers to go ruthless on them.

BUT HE WAS IN HIS HOUSE

According to a local press in the region, Makeri whose house is close to the Air Force Base in New Bussa was in house when the soldiers invaded and shot him. They would later jump over the fence into the next neighbourhood where they brutalised his neighbour.

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He was badly beaten and left with a bullet in his leg by NAF soldiers even though he didn’t violate the 9 pm-6 am curfew, according to Borgu Online TV.

“This happens some minutes after 9 pm,” the local TV broadcast. “The soldiers jumped over fences to enter three other houses.”

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OTHERS RECOUNT ORDEALS

In a video obtained by WikkiTimes, a 17-year-old boy, who was also manhandled by the soldiers, held his injured arms in dismay.

“We were inside the compound together with our parents when the soldiers traced a small boy into our compound,” the unnamed teenager explained, adding the boy was on an errand for his parents.

He added: “They followed the boy into our house and saw my mother, preparing food while I took cattle to fetch water. One of them asked our mother what we were doing outside.

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“My father later came outside and explained to them we did go outside but the soldiers argued otherwise. So, he had to beg them. In the process, one of them hit him with a tick.”

The father who also spoke in the video said he was relaxing in his room waiting for dinner when the incident happened.

In the video, a minor boy who was given a chase by the soldiers explained that he had gone to pee before they came after him. “I went to ease myself and they followed me into the house,” said the minor. 

When contacted, Edward Gabkwet,  spokesman for Nigerian Air Force said the matter is under investigation, adding the injured victim is presently receiving treatment at NAF base Hospital.

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