Soldiers from the Nigeria Army School of Military Engineering (NASME) on Saturday attacked a community in north bank area of Makurdi, capital of Benue State.
It was gathered that the rampaging soldiers vandalised not less than 200 vehicles and made away with mobile phones, TV set, radio and other personal effects belonging to the residents.
Some of them men alleged that the soldiers raped their wives, a claim our correspondent could not confirm.
The soldiers also beat up the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Samuel Attah.
His new Toyota Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) was also smashed.
It was gathered that the soldiers went on rampage because a girl courted by one of them was given out in marriage to another man in the Hausa community.
Governor Samuel Ortom, who returned from Abuja on hearing the news, visited the community.
Ortom, who toured the affected areas, said about 33 of the soldiers involved in the incident have been arrested and detained according to a brief from the commandant.
The governor, who visited the victims, stated that the era of impunity was over, vowing that the soldiers who committed the act must be sanctioned.
He said: “No soldier will go scot free. This is senseless, this is madness. My heart is bleeding with blood. Why should those who are supposed to protect us turn their guns against us?
“This is unacceptable and it would be the last attack on Hausa community who are peace -loving.”
He commended the Commissioner of Police and Hausa community for not reacting to the needless provocation, promising to get to the roots of the matter.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) leader of the Hausa and Muslim community, Shiehk Ibrahim Aliyu, told Ortom it was the fourth time the soldiers were attacking them.
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