The daily Torch media.
Angry protesters in Turan, Benue State, on Wednesday set fire to the residence of His Royal Highness Simon Baver, the Mue Ter Ichongo of Turan in Kwande Local Government Area.
The unrest, which coincided with Nigeria’s Independence Day, was sparked by the alleged extra-judicial killing of a man by soldiers.
The incident reportedly occurred on Monday when Nigerian Army personnel stationed in Jato Aka — a community housing many internally displaced persons — allegedly opened fire on a group of mourners returning from the burial of Chief Hanave Laha, the Kindred Head of Nzaav.
Eyewitness Iorkohol Asemave told *The Guardian* that a man identified as Mr. Iorsuur was shot and died instantly. A student of Government Science Secondary School, Jato Aka, identified as Iorfa, was also hit but survived and is receiving treatment at NKST General Hospital.
Witnesses further alleged that soldiers took Iorsuur’s body to an undisclosed location.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Special Forces, Captain Abdullahi Lawal Osabo, said he was on leave and couldn’t comment. Efforts to reach the Police PRO, DSP Udeme Edet, and the Director-General of the Bureau for Homeland Security, Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuan (rtd), were unsuccessful.
Residents said commercial activity in Jato Aka has been suspended as armed soldiers continue to patrol the town in gun trucks. The Benue State government has yet to release an official statement on the matter.
