The Nigerian Army has dismissed as untrue a trending publication claiming that troops of Operation Enduring Peace sought permission from killer herdsmen to evacuate the remains of worshippers murdered by the same criminal gang during an attack in a Plateau community.

Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Enduring Peace, Major Samson Zhakom, said in a statement that the recent publication, which insinuated that soldiers begged killers for permission to recover the bodies of church members, appears to follow a growing pattern of unsubstantiated claims by certain religious figures aimed at stirring sentiment in the Joint Operations Area (JOA).

He stated: “On 13 October 2025, an online news outlet published claims by a Jos-based clergyman alleging 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 claimed that the unnamed pastor made the statement during a church service on Sunday. It further alleged that the soldiers told the pastor directly that they could not proceed to recover the bodies until they had received permission from the Fulani militias responsible for the attack — a situation which left relatives watching the corpses of their loved ones lie unattended. Consequently, it called on the Federal Government to act decisively.”

Major Zhakom recalled that similar comments had previously been attributed to Reverend Dachomo, who also made sweeping allegations against security agencies without providing verifiable evidence.

He stressed that a close examination of the current report reveals several inconsistencies, such as the absence of a 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 concerning that some religious leaders, instead of promoting peace and community cooperation, appear to be leading a subtle campaign of misinformation against security agencies who are working tirelessly to maintain order,” he said.

Major Zhakom lamented that this trend not only undermines public confidence but also jeopardises ongoing peace-building efforts.

He stated that Operation Enduring Peace remains undeterred, maintaining its professional commitment to impartiality, rapid response, and the protection of all citizens regardless of ethnic or religious identity — while continuing to engage genuine community and religious leaders to promote sustainable peace across the JOA. (ARISE NEWS)