Plateau flays killing of protesting student, orders probe

NAPS demand sanction on reckless soldiers as OPSH denies shooting

Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dan Manjang, has affirmed the death of Plateau State Polytechnic student.

He stated yesterday: “Recall that the Plateau State Government issued a statement on Monday, September 20, 2021, on the protests by students of Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi, who blocked the main highway into the state from both the main campus and the Jos campus.

“When the last statement was issued, which was shortly after the deputy governor, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, had met with the school management and students union representatives to resolve the matter, there was no reported death as a result of the protests, apart from some students that were injured and taken to hospital for treatment.”

He added that government received the sad news from the police, yesterday, of the death of a student, who was reportedly hit by a stray bullet and taken to hospital for treatment but could not survive.

“This is a very sad development, which the government totally condemns and has therefore directed an immediate and thorough investigation to be conducted into the circumstances leading to the death of the student,” he added.

ALSO, the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Plateau State chapter, has condemned the shooting of the student and demanded probe into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The National President of NAPS, Sunday Asuku, alleged that trigger-happy personnel of the Nigerian Army under Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) invaded their campus and unleashed terror on peaceful protesters, leaving one dead and so many hospitalised.

But OPSH Military Information Officer (MIO), Major Ishaku Takwa, responded saying: “The allegation against troops of OPSH is baseless and false. No personnel serving in OPSH fired at any protesting student. Security agencies professionally dispersed the protesting students, who barricaded the major road linking Jos Metropolis with other states causing traffic jam to commuters. Therefore, citizens are enjoined to disregard the statement issued by the student leader in its entirety.”