Tension in Sabo-Wuse As Military Invade Community Over Colleague’s Death

Residents of Aso community in Sabo-Wuse, a settlement in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State have been fleeing the area following the invasion by military personnel, who came in protest against the killing of their colleague and his brother on April 11.

City News learnt that on that Saturday, a naval officer and his brother were allegedly killed in the community by people suspected to the commercial cyclist operators in the area. When City News visited the town yesterday, most of the houses and shops were locked, while few residents remained inside their houses.

Some of the community leaders in the area told our reporter that the late officer and his brother drove in a jeep on high speed to the community through Bwari-Ijah Gwari road in the evening of the said Saturday, when the results of governorship and house of assembly elections were being collated.

They alleged that the deceased had knocked down some villagers before reaching Sabo-Wuse, which made some motorcyclists to trail them.

“The villagers passed the information to others in Sabo-Wuse and they barricaded the road. The deceased’s vehicle knocked the barrier on getting there, forcing them to stop. They were immediately grabbed by the mob that was trailing them. The mob killed them and set their corpses ablaze,’’ one of the residents narrated.

Sabo-Wuse residents claimed that the incident happened when most of the people who live in the community were at the polling units.

City News learnt that a family member of the deceased got the notice of the incidence the following day, when a call was made to the officer’s mobile phone and was picked by one of the suspects, now in detention.

It was further learnt that military men in about 10 Hilux vans stormed the town the following day and made random arrests.

The village head, Malam Ibrahim Danladi Ango, who was rushed to the hospital two days later, was equally picked on Saturday morning along with three persons that were looking after him at the hospital.

Reacting, the Suleja Police Area Commander, Abubakar Yahaya, confirmed the incidence, adding that five people were arrested by the police and that investigation was ongoing over the incidence.

On his part, Chairman of Tafa Local Government Area, Ahmad Ya’u, who condemned the mob action, said while investigation is ongoing by the security men, efforts were being made by the council to calm the situation.