Villagers protest youth’s killing, denounce OPSH in Plateau

Aprotest broke out yesterday morning in Ampang-West, Mangu local government area of Plateau State following the alleged killing of a youth by soldiers attached to Operation Safe Haven.

The youths demolished a vigilante outpost and asked security agents to vacate the area as they moved to the traditional leader’s home, who appealed for calm and assured them that justice will be done.

Daily Trust gathered from witness that the victim, 22 year old Aaron Kasham was shot dead Wednesday night shortly after a robbery incident in the area.

His brother, John Kasham told Daily Trust that soon after the robbery, Aaron who had gone to buy bread and two others had been trailed by men of the taskforce.

John who said he also witnessed the robbery said; “myself and others saw the security men follow the direction of Aaron and two others but it was in the morning that one of my siblings came to tell me that Aaron had been killed by soldiers.”

However, OPSH through the Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Mohammed Bello, said the vigilante in the community had called on security taskforce to assist them after a robbery incident adding that, “while trying to search for the robbers, men of the taskforce heard a gunshot from a building close by and when they got there they saw a woman crying. After scouting the area, they found the corpse of a young man.”

Brigadier General Bello said by morning, youths of the community refused to let the police retrieve the body for possible autopsy and investigation.

“Investigation will show whether it is the bullet from the rifle which is used by OPSH or not because each cartridge carries a serial number.”