From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna
There was pandemonium yesterday, at Manchok town of Kaura local government Area of Kaduna state, when military operatives shot at women and youth protesters in the area, injuring six persons, among them two secondary school students.
It was gathered that the protesters took to the streets in a peaceful protest demanding the release of some vigilante who they alleged were illegally arrested and beaten by the solders in the area.
Sources in the area said it was while the protesters approached the solders that the soldiers fired at them.
It was gathered that the shooting by the solders resulted to a clash between the solders and the locals as the villagers refused to go away.
The protesters blocked the Jos-Abuja road, asking the soldiers to kill all of them before they would leave the road.
Speaking to newsmen on phone, Emmanuel, who said he narrowly escaped death said the soldiers shot indiscriminately at the protesters, who were mostly youth and women.
“As am talking to you now, the women and youths barricaded the road connecting travellers from Kaduna and Abuja to Jos while others converged at the palace of the chief demanding justice,”
“We cannot understand why soldiers who are sent to protect us from attacks, will in-turn be the attackers of our people,” he said.
Another eyewitness, Mr. Kabosho Duniyo said on Wednesday, which was a day to the incident, that soldiers in the area received a distress call from a motorist who claimed to have been robbed in Manchok.
“The prompt response to the call led to the arrest of six suspects who were later taken to the paramount Chief of the community for amicable resolution of the matter.
“But the youths protested against the arrest, and in self defense, the soldiers fired gun shots and injured some persons,” he said.
When contacted, the Chairman of Kaura local government, Mr. Kumai Badu who confirmed the incidence said the situation had been brought under control and that the injured persons were receiving treatment at a health facility centre in Kagoro town.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Army, One Mechanized Division, Colonel Usman Abdul proved abortive as he didn’t answer his calls.
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