Plateau: Four reportedly killed during protest, govt imposes 24-hr curfew
What was supposed to be a simple protest in Plateau state on Thursday turned bloody after four protesters were reportedly shot dead by security operatives.
The protesters, youths of Bokkos Local Council, are aggrieved over the murder of their paramount ruler, the Saf Ron Kulere, Lazarus Agai, his wife, son and orderly. They were returning from the first-class monarch’s farm at the time of the attack.
The youths took to the streets after another attack on a village in the area led to the killing of another set of people Wednesday night.
Arguing that soldiers stationed in the council were not doing enough to protect citizens, the youths blocked Their activities however coincided with the Police DIG’s visit to the state.
DIG Joshak Habila had been directed by the Acting IG to fish out the killers of the monarch. Following the killings, the Plateau State government has placed the tension-soaked communities under a 24-hour curfew to prevent an escalation of the crisis.
The shooting and killing of the four youths coincided with the visit of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of operations, Mr. Joshak Habila, who came on behalf of the Acting Inspector-General to commiserate with the people of Bokkos over the unfortunate murder of the paramount ruler.
The protest got out of hand when the protesting youths tried to prevent men of a Special Task Force from evacuating some persons from the area.
To forestall further breakdown of law and order, the state government has imposed a 24-hour curfew in Bokkos Local Government Area.
Confirming the incident, the state police boss, Olatunde Oladunjoye, said two men were killed in the process.
“We have to take the action to prevent endangered persons from coming to harm,” he said. “The situation will be reviewed as the situation improves.”.
