By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives, on Tuesday called for a thorough investigation into the reported killing of one Kenneth Gyang at a military checkpoint around Maraban Jama’a Vwei area of Kuru, Plateau State.
The House equally mandated Commandant of the Special Task Force in charge of the checkpoint to investigate the kinlling, and ensure that justice is given with compensation to his family, as well as proper medical care for the injured.
The House resolution was fallout of a motion sponsored under matters of urgent public importance by Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos, who noted that due to the rate of insecurity and killing of innocent souls in Nigeria, government put in place security check points on several roads across the country to checkmate the insecurity.
He lamented however that there have been complains by citizens of being harassed or molested by security personnel at the checkpoints, recalling that on Monday (5th of June, 2023) “there was an unrest at a security checkpoint in Maraban Jama’a vwei, Kuru between the Security and some of my constituents who were on their way for funeral but were stopped by the Security personnel of the Special Task Force (Operation Safe Haven) stationed at the popular Vwei (Mararaban Jama’a) Kuru Jos South LGA of Plateau State”.
According to him, the people pleaded with the Security personnel to allow them go to the mortuary to pick the corpse of their deceased for burial and were only allowed access after an intense plea, but “that on their way coming back from the mortuary heading to church for the funeral service the same Security personnel stopped them at the check point denying them right of access, while some youths on bike came down to plead with the Security personnel one amongst the Security personnel shot two of the youths thereby killing one 18 Year Old Mr. Kenneth Gyang and injuring one Emmanuel Pam”.
He said the victims were among the mourners conveying corpse from Zawan to Kuru for burial.
The lawmaker expressed concern that funeral processions have never had such confrontation or prohibition either by order or convention from the security agents at this or any other checkpoint in Jos and its environs., stressing that it was wrong for the “arbitrary killing of an innocent Kenneth, a promising young man had his precious and sacred life untimely terminated by an officer that ought to have guaranteed his safety”.
The House observed a minute silence in honour of the deceased.
