Alkali was declared missing on September 3, 2018, when some youths were protesting the killing of 11 persons by gunmen in Du District of Jos South
Gyang Bere, Jos
The Nigerian Army has discovered the body of missing retired General Idris Alkali, in an abandoned well at Guchwet village, in Shen District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
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He was declared missing on September 3, 2018, when some youths were protesting the killing of 11 persons by gunmen in Du District of Jos South Local Government Area of the state.
Garrison Commander of 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and head of search and rescue operation, Brigadier General Umar Mohammed, made the disclosure yesterday, when he led journalists to the abandoned well where the body was discovered.
Gen. Mohammed said one of the wanted suspects, who reported himself to the police, was the person who took the army, yesterday, to the abandoned well where the body was recovered.
The body was covered in a body jacket and journalists were banned from taking photographs; after which a military parade was carried out to pay last respect before the body was convey into an ambulance to the 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Jos, Plateau State.
He said: “You are all aware that retired General Idris Alkali was declared missing on September 3, 2018, since then, the Nigerian Army gave us three tasks: First, was for us to find General Alkali alive; secondly, to find his vehicle, a Toyota Corolla and if anything happens to him, we are to find out those who responsible and ensure they are arrested.
“As you are all aware, on September 29, 2018, we were able to recover the vehicle and his personal belongings, which confirmed that it was him. In the same vain, last week, a shallow grave was discovered in which General Alkali was buried initially.
“We have declared some people wanted and some of them reported to the police, and some people who took part in the relocation of the body brought us to where he was reburied; he was relocated to an abandoned well. We came here this morning and drained the water and we discovered the body, that is the remains of General Alkali.”
Gen. Mohammad said Late Alkali was killed and buried earlier in a shallow grave at “No man’s Land,” but when the vehicle and his belongings were recovered in a pond with water, at Dura Du village, in Jos South LGA, the suspects exhumed the body and threw it into an abandoned well at Guchwet village, in Shen District of Jos South Local Government Area.
He vowed that the army will arrest and bring to justice those who carried out the hideous crime, no matter how highly placed in the society.
“This means that the first two aspects are completed; what is now left is for us to arrest all those who took part in the hideous act. I want to assure you that nobody, no matter how highly placed, will go unpunished. For those who have not submitted themselves to the police, we are on their trail.
“I want you to note this operation was conducted by the Nigerian Army and was supported by the Nigeria Police and the Fire Service. The person who gave this information is one of those in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force who voluntarily handed himself over out of those who were declared wanted. Out of the number, 6 of them have reported and one of them who actually took parts in the relocation of the body took us to the location this morning.”