…”THEY SHOT ME ON MY RIGHT ARM” – SUNDAY YUSUF
By Okosun Dennis
“When the dust settled, Mr Damden Dafur Datom, a former teacher at Hauwa Memorial Secondary School, Mangu, was killed while I was shot in my right hand and another person escaped from military assault at Angwan Sarki in Mangu Local Government Area. Now, I remain an amputee while Mr. Datom has gone and never to be seen again.”
The above is part of the statements from Mr. Sunday Yusuf, a refugee, who had run from his ancestral village in “Murish” after Fulani herdsmen displaced them completely and ran to Mangu town for safety, became a victim of the Nigerian military’s bullets after they allegedly charged through their village in Mangu and left a tale of unforgettable woes for the inhabitants in the lonely town of Jos, Plateau state.
Explaining the circumstances that led to the killing of his uncle on the 24th of January 2024, Mr. Longs Datom told our correspondent that the deceased met his death after a military truck turned its General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) that was mounted on a gun truck and fired volleys of mindless bullets against defenceless people.
Adumbrating the circumstances that led to the killing, Longs said his uncle, Damden Dafur Datom, before he died in the hands of troops, was a Youth leader. On the fateful day, he was at home at Mishkaham Mangu (Angwan Sarki Street) close to the Mishkaham Mwaghavul Palace when they heard gunshots.
“Though scared as they couldn’t decipher who was responsible for the shooting, they wanted to confirm whether they were terrorists or bandits so that they could escape with their family members. In the midst of it, they saw some soldiers on the gun truck. On seeing them, they relaxed and calmed down as the (soldiers) met to protect them and their community.
Unfortunately, surprisingly, he continued, they turned their guns against them and started shooting. In the melee, they bid a retreat and ran for cover. In the process, Damden was hit on his shoulder and the bullet pierced through to his lower jaw. The same bullet hit me on my right hand too and scattered it,” Yusuf explained corroborating Long’s narratives.
While he was admitted to the hospital and later amputated due to the impact of the wound, Damden’s remains have been deposited at the mortuary in Jos.
In a petition to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa dated 31st January 2024, on behalf of the deceased family and the wounded by Barrister D.A Dalong Chambers and Associates, which was copied to the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun and the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3rd Division and Commander Operation Safe Haven, Rukuba Barracks, Jos, titled: “Extra-Judicial Killing of Late Damden Dafur Datom and Injury of Mr. Sunday Yusuf: Unprofessional Conduct by The Military Personnel In Mangu and The Demand for Compensation in the sun of N1,000,000,000 and thorough Investigation of the incident,” called on the high military command to launch a thorough investigation to unmask those behind the killing and ensure justice is served.
In the petition, the solicitor, Barrister Dalong claimed that his client, the late Damden Dafur Datom and his neighbour were felled by a volley of bullets from the military who opened fire on them in an unprovoked attack.
Explaining how his client was killed said, “Our clients had on the 24th January 2024 about 9:30 am in Angwan Sarki close to the Mishkaham Mwaghavul Palace, Late Mr. Damden Datom and his neighbours were standing in front of their respective Houses a day after the security breach in some part of Mangu LGA Plateau State, the men and officers of the Operation Safe Haven Mangu Sector came in a Military van and upon sighting the deceased and his neighbours without any form of provocation opened fire on them.
He averred that there was no justification to have opened fire on armless and defenceless people, who ordinarily deserve better protection from the military not to talk of killing them.
“The deceased and Mr. Sunday Yusuf and their neighbours were unarmed and defenceless civilians who ordinarily were supposed to be protected by the Military but were instead shot at close range, contrary to the rules of engagement in the Military.
The petitioner drew the attention of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa “to the fact that there were no crises or any form of violence in that area as the Houses are close to the Palace of the Mishkaham Mwaghavul where the residence are predominantly Christians and are law-abiding citizens but for reasons best known to the Military, carried out the unprofessional act by killing the deceased in cold blood.
“There are eye witnesses who witnessed the ugly incident and are ready to testify any day anytime. We shall demand an autopsy on the corpse of the deceased to confirm our allegation and ascertain the cause of death.”
It was gathered that the deceased is the breadwinner of the family, and left a wife with three children named, Dyelshak Damden, 6 years old, Peret Damdem, 9 years, and Plangnan Damden, 14 years old and Mrs. Tina Damden, wife, while Mr. Sunday Yusuf, a farmer, has been amputated and will permanently suffer disability and will no longer go to the farm to feed his family.
Barrister Dalong, in the petition on behalf of the family, is demanding compensation in the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) only within 14 days (fourteen) days to take care of the family of the deceased for the loss of life and amputation of the hand of our client.”
Also speaking, one of the village members who miraculously escaped being killed by barrages of bullets from the troops’ Machine Gun, Amuna Mangu, told our Correspondent that “Early on that Wednesday morning, we heard several guns shots and became frightened as we weren’t sure if it was coming from enemy attack or not.
“When we realized it was from the Army, we were curious to find out if there were intelligence reports their actions were based on. As the Youth leader, we were desirous to know so that we could escape with our families.
“Amid those contemplations, troops of the Nigerian military with a truck mounted with General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) spread us with bullets.
“We hadn’t the opportunity to ask questions neither were their attacks of any kind the previous day. We started running for our lives. In the process, Mr. Damden Dufur Datom wasn’t lucky enough as a bullet from their GPMG caught him on his left hand while Sunday Yusuf was also hit on his right hand but I escaped unhurt.”
Asked what could have necessitated military action, Amuna gave an insight. He explained on the phone that on Monday, 22nd January 2024, some Christian youths were attacked near a military checkpoint by some Moslem youths, destroyed their bikes and confiscated others.
“As it happened in front of the military and they did nothing to salvage the situation, we felt there was no need to continue to have the presence of the checkpoint in our area so long they watched Muslim group wreaked havoc on our properties and houses.
“How such complaint could lead to turning guns on defenceless people and mauling our people is difficult to fathom,” Amuna added.
However, there was a twist to the story as the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, Rev. Timothy, figured the military of compromise while painting ethno-religious cleavages against the military.
“The military allowed the militias to have their way. They have sent the Christians away thereby allowing the Moslems youths to burn their houses.
Giving a shimmering narrative of the partiality by the military, he further added that the military imposed a curfew in the town and gave unfettered freedom of movement to the Moslem youths while the Christians were gagged before Moslems swooped on us and downgraded the community.”
When contacted for his response, the Director, Defence Information (DDI), Brigadier General Tukur Gusau said, “I’m not aware of the incident.”
How the legal tussle would go as a result of the killing of Damden Dafur Datom, is waiting to be seen in the months ahead.
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