Idris Alkali: Controversy Trails Whereabouts Of Missing Army General

Controversy has trailed the whereabouts of Major-General Idris Alkali who was earlier declared missing by the Nigerian Army on September 3.

While troops of the 3 Division Garrison of the Nigerian army have been deployed for the search of Alkali, there are unconfirmed reports in some blogs that the Army General may have been killed and his body dumped in a pond around Dura, Du District, Jos South Local Government of Plateau State.

Alkali was said to have departed his Abuja residence on the said date for Bauchi and had since been missing.

The Army is said to now be acting on some intelligence report as the deployed troops have commenced evacuation of the pond to establish if truly the General’s body was dumped there.

Speaking to reporters in Jos on Thursday, the Garrison Commander, Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohammed, said the evacuation of the pond followed a directive from the Army headquarters.

“In carrying out a directive from the Army headquarters, a thorough search was conducted, hospitals were visited, we searched everywhere,” said Mohammed.

“Based on credible intelligence, we had to come to this place and we have been here for the last one week.

“We are trying to find three things – an officer, Maj. Gen. Alkali (rtd), who is still missing, his vehicle, a black Toyota Corolla, and also ascertain whether Alkali is alive or not.

“We have credible information that some vehicles were pushed into this river and we have been here for the last three days trying to see if we can salvage something from the river.

“The river is a mining site and therefore very deep. We have used all options but as a last resort, we will evacuate the water from the pond to see what is in it,” he said.

Meanwhile, some residents of the community where the pond is situated were said to have protested Army’s evacuation of the pond, saying it had “a huge cultural significance”.