Crime

Soldier Arrested After Deadly Shooting of Youth in Benue

Published by Tope Fakinlede on September 10th, 2024.

Soldier Arrested After Deadly Shooting of Youth in Benue

ACP Edmund Afraimu, the Area Commander of the Police in Gboko, has confirmed the detention of a soldier involved in the fatal shooting of a youth at the Dangote Cement Plant in Gboko on Monday.

While Afraimu stated that he could not provide an official statement, he confirmed that he had ordered the soldier’s arrest. The soldier remains in custody as investigations continue.

The victim, identified as Aboy Bonny, known locally as ‘Changes,’ was a prominent young man in the community. According to witnesses, the shooting occurred between 6:00 am and 7:00 am. One witness reported seeing soldiers in an open truck chasing a youth driving a red Toyota Carina. The soldier allegedly fired at the vehicle, causing it to crash into a nearby field. The driver, who was thrown from the car, was pronounced dead at the scene.

In response to the incident, a furious crowd transported the victim’s body on a motorcycle to the Dangote Cement Plant, where they protested by damaging vehicles and placing the body at the entrance of the administrative block.

Local leaders eventually intervened to restore order, urging the protesters to allow them to handle the situation peacefully. Dangote Plant Director Louise Raj noted that the military personnel at the site were not under the plant’s authority and had acted independently of any guidance or instructions from the management.