A resident of the Oureedam community in the Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Gata Moses, who was allegedly tortured by soldiers for condemning the killing of a pastor and three others during a recent attack by gunmen in the neighbouring Ngbra Zongo community, has raised alarm over fresh threat to his life.

Moses said on Monday he decided to raise the alarm following the invasion of his house by soldiers on Monday morning.

According to him, the soldiers who were obviously looking for him but could not find him arrested his uncle who was at home and whisked him.

Moses said:

“This morning, a team of soldiers stormed our compound in Oureedam looking for me. I was not at home at the time but they picked my uncle who was at home. They have not released him as I talk to you.

“From what I was told, the soldiers that came to our compound said they read my comments as published in the Punch newspaper regarding the recent killings in Ngbra Zongo community where a pastor and three others died during the attack by gunmen. And I ask again, what offence did I commit for saying that the killings in my community must not be allowed to continue?”

The Punch had earlier reported the experience of Moses in the hands of soldiers who he said tortured him last week for condemning the gruesome murder of the late pastor and three other victims, which occurred last Tuesday.

In the report, Moses who wondered why soldiers would come after him for speaking out against the killings had blamed the attacks that led to the death of the victims on the withdrawal of soldiers and other security agents in the community.

Lamenting his ordeal Moses had said “Everything has a price tag. When you dare to be a voice for the masses, you have to live the consequences.

“It was exactly 3.25pm on April 10, 2020, that more than a dozen soldiers stormed my residence and picked me, threw me into their vehicle, took me to their base, put me under a running tap, asked me to roll on the wet floor and manhandled me as if I am a criminal.

“My friends, who followed me to their base, were also slapped, kicked and maltreated by the soldiers outside their compound, close to the Nigerian College of Accountancy. According to them, my offence was that I incited the people against them and against the government. They further said that instead of appreciating them, I insulted them instead. But those were actually not my offence. I have witnesses; my statement was published; it wasn’t incitement of any sort.

“I was assaulted for saying this. Is that not an infringement on my human right? Speak the truth and die; don’t, and you still die; but I chose the former.”

Moses said he was eventually released after the lawmaker representing the Irigwe/Rukuba constituency in the Plateau state House of Assembly, Mr Musa Agah, intervened in the matter

He stated:

“When they picked me, I managed to send a text message to the lawmaker representing my constituency in the state House of Assembly, Mr Musa Agah. He was the one who came and pleaded with them before they were able to release me. It was really a very dehumanising experience for me for committing no offence other than saying that the killing of innocent people in my community by gunmen must not be allowed to continue.

“I am not a coward. The truth is that we cannot be intimidated into silence until the security agents and those in authority live up to their expectation and stop the killings in my constituency and other parts of Plateau State and Nigeria at large.”