How 3 bystanders were killed in Niger
Fresh facts have emerged about the killing of three individuals and the looting of a council secretariat during Thursday’s hunger protest in Sabon-Wuse, the headquarters of Tafa Local Government Area (LGA) in Niger State. Our correspondent visited the area and learned that two of the victims, Isa Usman, 22, a trader, and Muhammad Bunkau, a […]
Fresh facts have emerged about the killing of three individuals and the looting of a council secretariat during Thursday’s hunger protest in Sabon-Wuse, the headquarters of Tafa Local Government Area (LGA) in Niger State.
Our correspondent visited the area and learned that two of the victims, Isa Usman, 22, a trader, and Muhammad Bunkau, a commercial driver, were hit by stray bullets while sitting on a road barrier along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway, opposite the council facility.
The third victim, Muhammad Isa, also a commercial driver, was reportedly hit by a bullet while standing at a nearby auto mechanic workshop where he had gone to retrieve his vehicle.
The three deceased were taken to Umaru Musa Yar’adua General Hospital before being buried the following day, according to family members who spoke to Daily Trust.
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Abdulfatah Hussaini, an uncle of one of the victims, claimed that information received indicated that all three victims were allegedly killed by local vigilantes from the area.
“We were told that they took cover inside a maize plantation around the road barrier and fired gunshots towards the victims, who were not participating in the attack on the secretariat,” he said.
Hussaini called for a thorough investigation into the incident to prosecute the suspects and provide compensation to the families of the deceased.
In response to the attack, a team of joint security agencies, led by soldiers, has been deployed to the secretariat, which was heavily damaged by the attackers.
During the visit, some officials were seen sitting around the premises, as every office had been looted of furniture and other items, with the revenue office and the National Identification Number (NIN) office completely set ablaze.
Attempts to speak with the chairman of the Tafa council were unsuccessful, as he had reportedly left for a security meeting in Suleja.
Also, the Police Area Commander in Suleja, ACP Muhammad Sani Musa, did not respond to a phone call from our reporter seeking comments on the incident.