Youths on the rampage in Maiduguri •Over killings of civilian

Posted by admin Borno, Headlines, State News Monday, May 19th, 2014

THE relative peace in Maiduguri was, on Sunday, shattered, as youths took to the streets to protest the killing of a civilian at the West End area of the metropolis by a police officer.

Nigerian Tribune in Maiduguri gathered that, the angry youth, in their hundreds, barricaded major roads in the area and also made bonfires.

Witnesses said trouble started after a policeman stationed in a nearby military formation allegedly shot at a tricycle operator popularly known as Keke NAPEP for allegedly violating traffic rule.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the officer missed the target, while the bullet hit a roadside trader (Maigoro), opposite the military formation.

The trader was said to have been hit on the chest and died instantly before help could come his way.

Witnesses said the officer was not remorseful, a development that angered the youth, who had mobilised to the area on hearing the sound of the gunshot.

An eyewitness, who is also a roadside trader, Mallam Mohammed Bukar, told the Nigerian Tribune that the angry youth chased the policeman and his colleagues away from the area.

“People were angered because after the shooting, the policeman did not show any sign of regret. The youth, who came to the area, started protesting the killing,” he added.

The policeman was nearly lynched by the youth, but for the quick intervention of his colleagues who sneaked him out of the area, though he was said to have sustained some injuries on his head and eyes.

The incident created tension in the area and motorists plying the road were made to turn back to take other routes, as the roads leading to Baga road, Post office and Custom area were closed for many hours by the youth who set bonfire.

Military men drafted with armoured vehicles to the area turned back as some of the youth had started throwing stones at them.

As of the time of filing this report, smoke from the bonfires could be noticed from afar. However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Gideon Jibril, said the police were not aware of the incident, but some youths told Nigerian Tribune that some of the arrested rampaging youths were in custody at Lamisula police station, near the place where the incident occurred.

-Tribunewp_posts