By Augustine Ehikioya
The Nigerian Army has denied begging for the release of deceased church members’ body in Plateau State.
It reacted to recent publication insinuating that soldiers beg killers for permission to recover Church members’ bodies.
The Army said the report appeared to follow a growing pattern of unsubstantiated claims by certain religious figures to whip sentiments at the JTF Operation ENDURING PEACE area of responsibility.
This was contained in a statement by Major Samson Zhakom, Media Information Officer, JTF Operation ENDURING PEACE, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA).
The statement said “On 13 October 2025, online news media published that a clergyman based in Jos alleged that soldiers deployed to evacuate corpses of church members killed by suspected Fulani militias were compelled to seek permission from the same attackers before accessing the scene.
“The publication alluded that the undisclosed Pastor made the claims during a church service on Sunday.
“It added that the Soldiers told the Pastor plainly that they could not move in to recover the bodies until they have gotten permission from the Fulani militias who carried out the attack, a situation that make relatives to watch the corpses of their loved ones layed unattended to.
“Consequently, it demanded the federal government to act decisively.
“Recall that similar comments were attributed to Rev Dachomo, who also made sweeping allegations against security agencies without verifiable evidence.”
Continuing, the statement said “A close examination of the current report reveals several inconsistencies such as no specific date, location or verifiable identity of the said Pastor, suggesting a deliberate attempt to misinform the public.
“The anonymity of the source and the sensational nature of the claim point to a coordinated narrative designed to erode public trust in security agencies. It is even more worrisome that some religious leaders, instead of promoting peace and community cooperation, appear to be leading a subtle campaign of misinformation against the security agencies working tirelessly to maintain order.
“This trend not only undermines public confidence but also jeopardizes ongoing peace-building efforts.
“Notwithstanding this, Operation ENDURING PEACE remains undeterred, maintaining its professional commitment to impartiality, rapid response and the protection of all citizens irrespective of ethnic or religious identity, while continuing to engage genuine community and religious leaders to promote sustainable peace across the JOA,” it stated.
