News Wednesday, February 9, 2011
By peter duru
MAKURDI-Crisis broke out in Makurdi, yesterday afternoon, when angry youths laid siege on the busy Makurdi-Otukpo Federal highway after a trigger- happy police Sergeant, (names withheld) with the Benue State Police Command gunned down a middle-aged man, Aondowase Angu, at Kanshio area of Makurdi.
The incident created pandemonium in the state capital leaving residents, especially parents whose wards attend the elitists Tiny Tots Nursery and Primary School located in the area, scampering with their kids for safety while vehicular movements were also brought to a halt.
Vanguard gathered from the nephew of the deceased, Mr. Terfa Atile, that he and the deceased sat outside their compound when the police officer dressed in mufti attempted to trespass on their house.
Mr. Atile said the late Aondowase accosted the officer and urged him to stop the act which infuriated the Police Officer.
He was said to have left the scene without uttering a word only to return dressed up in his uniform and immediately pulled out a gun and shot the young man and thereafter took to his heels.
Aondowase was said to have been rushed to the Federal Medical Centre Makurdi, where Doctors confirmed him dead.
The brutal killing sparked angry reaction from youths of the area who burnt cars and property after barricading the Federal highway in search of any uniform personnel for reprisal attack.
The mob also took to the burning of tires on the highway, and completely obstructed the flow of traffic.
Benue State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed, described the killing as "barbaric".
Alh. Ibrahim frowned at the Police officer's uncivilized and nefarious attitude saying that it was unacceptable and cruel.
He said, "The incident is barbaric. The police officer responsible for this will be arrested, detained, tried and subsequently dismissed. We will not condone such wicked and unlawful act from our officers", Mohammed fumed.
At the time of filing this report, a detachment of mobile police officers had been deployed to the area to restore peace and also ensure that the crisis did not spread to other parts of the town.
Vanguard further gathered that the late Angu before his demise was the only surviving son of his aged mother.
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