Gen Alkali’s killing: Buratai seeks review of country security architecture

The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has said that the security architecture of the country must be reviewed to ensure that current killings are stopped.

He added that the death of Major General Idris Alkali (rtd), who was killed by yet to be arrested persons in Dura Du community in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State on September 3, 2018, should be “a wake up call for all including the military to be decisive on the issues of insecurity in the country.”

Buratai stated this in Abuja on Monday when he received a delegation of Plateau State Government led by Governor Simon Lalong on a condolence visit over the killing of General Alkali.

The COAS said that security is fundamental and remains the focus of governance because without it so many things goes wrong affecting peace which is essential for any meaningful development to take place.

He regretted that it is taking the country too long to realise the need for peace despite its bitter experiences of unrests. Buratai said that the security situation in the country need to be improved upon but regretted that authorities who ought to take responsibility in their areas have renegade their duties.

The COAS said that the late General Alkali case is just one among many, adding that several people have been killed in communities whose cases are not investigated.

He said that even where investigation are commenced, they are not concluded and suspects are not prosecuted.

He said, “We have a very big gap between arrests and prosecution in our hands and as security agencies we must bridge that gap.”

He said that one of the cars that was found in the pond was a case reported in 2013 but its investigation was inconclusive.

Buratai said that commanders of security outfits in communities must henceforth be held responsible and sanctioned because they knew what is happening in their areas of jurisdiction but choose not to address the issues.

The COAS also urged leaders to speak out and condemn criminal activities in their areas and leave sentiment apart.

He advised Governor Lalong to ensure that the cases of those responsible for General Alkali’s death and other security breaches are diligently prosecuted. He assured that those on the run will be arrested.

Earlier, while expressing his condolence, Governor Lalong, who was accompanied by some members of Plateau State House of Assembly and members of State Executive Council, described the killing as unfortunate, adding that it was “first time in our life that we are witnessing this type of thing.”

The Governor thanked the Army for unraveling the killing that happened at a time Nigerian Army is helping to fight insecurity in the state.

He appealed to the army not to be discouraged on what happened as God will expose the causes of insecurity in the state.

Lalong also assured the army that the unfortunate incident will not happen again in Plateau State.