Controversy surrounds killing of task force policeman in Plateau

A policeman attached to the enforcement team of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board, JMDB, has reportedly died after he was shot in the market on Wednesday.

This medium learned that the incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday at the Terminus Market in Jos North Local Government Area, where security agents and task force officials had been struggling to clear the area of street trading in the past weeks.

Eyewitness traders at the market who confirmed the shooting and death of the policeman, however, gave PUNCH Metro different accounts of what led to the tragic incident.

One of the traders, identified as Amina Mohammed, said, “There was tension and confusion at the Terminus Market and Ahmadu Bello Way behind Zenith Bank in Jos North this morning at about 11: 30 am on Wednesday.

“From what I gathered, some of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board task force officials and security agencies came this morning to carry out enforcement of the state law banning street hawking.

“You know they have been facing resistance from some of the traders.

“So, in an attempt to maintain law and order, a Mobile Police officer fired a shot, and the stray bullet hit his colleague on duty, creating panic in the process. I learnt that although the victim was taken to the hospital, he later died.”

Haruna, also a trader in the market, blamed the death of the cop on the hoodlums, whom he said had vowed not to vacate the area despite the enforcement drive.

Haruna said, “Many of the hoodlums were lurking around this morning. And suddenly, we heard a gunshot when the security agents were trying to disperse some traders who had started displaying their wares on the roadside against the instruction of the task force officials. Unfortunately, the bullet hit one of the policemen, who I learnt later died after he was rushed to the hospital.”

Alabo Alfred, the spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, when contacted, said an investigation had begun to unearth the circumstances surrounding the incident.

He said, “Yes, we are aware of the incident at the Terminus Market. Right now, we are in the office of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board over the matter. So, we are investigating it.”