Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, Monday, led a delegation of people to the Army Headquarters, Abuja, to beg the Nigerian Army not to avenge the recent gruesome murder of the former Army Chief of Administration, Major General Idris Alkali, rtd, allegedly by some indigenes of the state.

Lalong also appealed to the Army not to expose the state to danger by abandoning its ongoing security operations in the state as a result of the dastardly act.

Alkali was reportedly killed at Dura-Du, a community in Jos South Local Government Area of the State, on September 3, allegedly by a mob protesting attack in their area the previous evening by unknown assailants.

In his mission statement during the meeting with the Chief of Army Staff,Lt. General Tukur Buratai, the governor, who condemned the killing of the retired senior army officer, pledged that the state government would continue to accord army authorities all necessary cooperation to fish out the remaining suspects behind the act.

Lalong regretted that the development came at a time the military especially the army was doing everything possible to restore lasting peace in the state.

Responding, the Chief of Army Staff,Lt. General Tukur Buratai, commended the governor but attributed the unfortunate death of the retired Army General to wrong people in leadership position who he noted, abandoned their responsibilities.

Besides, the Army chief also blamed the death of Alkali on non diligent investigation and successful prosecution of individuals who had been found wanting in similar situations in the past in the country.

•Excerpted from a Vanguard report