SOLDIERS KILL 5 IN LAFIA

Armed soldiers yesterday shot  five youths to death  in Mararaba area of Tudun  Amba  along  Doma road about five kilometers  from Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital,  and 75 kilometers from the scene of  renewed communal clash in the area.

Eyewitness account told Blueprint that  youths in the area resisted the arrest of their colleagues by  soldiers  who we were on their way to Ekye  development area, about 130 kilometers from the scene of the incident.

A report said the fracas was triggered by the action of the youths  who mounted a road block,   preventing the   army from taking away over 20 youths allegedly arrested with charms and weapons by joint security operatives.

The village head of Tudun  Amba,  Malam Abubakar Abdullahi, who confirmed the incident, said the soldiers     killed the boys without any provocation as they were arrested without any weapon.

Abdullahi said three of the victims died instantly while two died in the hospital and two were lying critically in the hospital with various degrees of bullet wounds.

When Blueprint visited Tudun Amba, people were seen in groups, discussing the incident, while palace chiefs from the emir of Lafia’s palace were seen waiting to receive the victims’ bodies.

The state police Commissioner, Mr. Akeremale Abayomi, confirmed the death of two people. He said the police shot in the air to defend themselves from the protesting youths.

Source: Blueprint