From Jude Owuamanam, Managing Editor, Northern Operations
KADUNA (Sundiata Post) – Security operatives in the restive state of Kaduna are battling hard to contain reprisal attack following the killing of a man by a soldier attached to Command Secondary School, Kaduna. Three other people were shot and wounded in a commotion that ensued.
The victim, identified as Mr. Solomon Andy, 35 and a father of one, was said to have been shot by the trigger-happy soldier along Kachia/NNPC express Road, on Friday morning.
An eye witness said the boy was packing sharp sand from a gully close to the fence separating the Military Secondary School and the community close to a burial ground which allegedly attracted the wrath of the soldier, who shot the unarmed man
Sundiata Post gathered that soldiers had been at daggers drawn with youths from the community over the packing of sand in the area, with the particular soldier always threatening to deal with anybody found within the vicinity.
The unlucky young man was said to have met his nemesis when he came around for another round of sound packing, with the particular soldier unfortunately around.
However on sighting the gun welding soldier, the youths, who were packing the sand along with Andy, took to their heels on sighting. However Solomon remained undaunted, preferring to attract the understanding of the soldier to allow him pack the sand to get something to eat, since he was packing inside gutter that belongs to nobody but in the burial ground.
But the enraged soldier, piqued by Andy’s audacity shot him at close range, as the man was approaching and pleading with him.
The development prompted an outrage as youths from the vicinity took the corpse to the gate of the command secondary school and started protesting that the killer soldier be brought out for justice.
They barricaded the entrance of the school, the roads along the School leading to Kachia and the NNPC refinery in Kaduna and the other leading to Romi and Gonin-Gora and Abuja expressway.
Their action caused heavy traffic hold-up for almost four hours as motorists have to take alternative roads to their destination.
Efforts by the some police officers, whom were attracted to the scene to placate the youths were unsuccessful.
This necessitated a reinforcement of combined operatives of soldiers, anti-riot policemen, who arrived in two trucks and over 15 Toyota Hilux vans.
But the youths remained adamant. They insisted on extracting assurances of goodwill from a higher officer that the suspect would be made to face the music.
However they became more enraged when, instead of acceding to their request, the police insisted on taking the corpse. They engaged the security agents by throwing stones at them. The commotion that ensued left three others injured. They are currently receiving treatment at St. Gerald’s Catholic Hospital, Kakuri
But reacting to the incident, the Army through Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Division, Col. Kingsley Umoh, confirmed that “A soldier of the Division Internal Security Force deployed at Command Secondary School Kaduna opened fire on some youths suspected to have encroached into the school premises. One of the youths was hit and died at the spot
He said that officers have been deployed to the scene of the incidence in response and the Police have also been invited to take control of the situation.”
An emergency meeting was quickly convened with some traditional rulers and youth leaders from Television community by a representative of the State Governor and coordinator of Operation Yaki, Col. Yakubu Soja (Rtd), to resolve the matter.
Speaking at the meeting, Soja assured citizens of the state that government will conduct a proper investigation into the incidence with the aim of prosecuting the culprit.
He expressed the displeasure of the governor to the development and appealed for calm.
Soja advised the youths not to take the law into their hands as the Army Command has commenced the process of bringing the suspect to book and advised not to adorn the incident with any religious coloration. .
He said, “We cannot allow this to go unpunished, we shall investigate the cause of the incidence and ensure the law take its course. The Army authority has already taken action against the soldier that shot dead the civilian. We assuring the people that justice shall take it course.”