24-hour curfew imposed as protest leaves 3 dead

The Plateau Government on Thursday imposed a 24-hour curfew on Bokkos Local Government Area following a protest that left three persons dead and eight others wounded.

Youths in Bokkos had early on Thursday morning staged a protest over the killing of their paramount ruler and Sef Ron Kulere, Lazarus Agai.

Agai, who was killed on Monday at Sha Village, Bokkos, with his son, daughter-in-law and orderly, was on his way to Bokkos town when the incident occurred.

Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the government had to impose the curfew to forestall further bloodshed in the area.

"We have to impose a 24-hour curfew on the council area to forestall further bloodshed.

"Three persons lost their lives when our soldiers fired at the protesting youths in defence.

"Since yesterday, the youths of the area have been protesting and almost lynched the Ardo of Bokkos, Mr Yakubu Dabo, who was rescued by our men.

"It was at that point that the youths started shooting at our men who had to defend themselves against the irate youths, ’’ the JTF spokesman said.

Iweha called on the people of Bokkos to remain calm and cooperate with the security operatives, whom he said, were doing their best to arrest the killers of the paramount ruler.

A reliable source told NAN that trouble started when DIG Habila Joshack from the Force Headquarters visited Bokkos over the death of the traditional ruler.

"Immediately the helicopter of the DIG landed at the police station in Bokkos town, youths rushed there and demanded the release of Fulani Ardo, Mr Ibarahim Dabo, to deal with him.

"The security operatives, who sensed the danger in such request, smuggled the Ardo out of the police station, a situation which sparked off protest from the youths and the eventually shooting of the protesters, ’’ the source said.

Also corroborating the information, Mr Titus Alams, former Plateau House of Assembly Speaker, said:

"Among the three youths killed by the security operatives is Mr Dako, the son of my friend and former Senior Special Assistant to a former governor, Jonah Jang.

"We are not happy that this is happening to us here in Bokkos; we first lost our paramount ruler and now three youths, with several others wounded.

"Our payer is that the government and the security agents would take control of the situation to avoid further bloodshed in the land, ’’ Alams said.