Reps Urge OPSH To Probe Killing, Shooting In Jos

The House of Representatives has mandated the commandant of Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Jos, Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim to probe the killing of one Kenneth Gyang and sporadic shooting by men of the taskforce at a security checkpoint in Maraban Jama’a Vwei, Kuru in Jos.

This resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance, moved by Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos (PDP, Plateau) at plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, Bagos narrated that on June 5, 2023, there was an unrest at a security checkpoint in Maraban Jama’a Vwei, Kuru between the security agents and some of his constituents.

He said his constituents were on their way to a funeral but were stopped by the security personnel of OPSH stationed at the popular Veiw (Mararaban Jama’a) Kuru Jos South local government area of Plateau State.

The lawmaker said, “The people pleaded with the security personnel to allow them to go to the mortuary to pick the corpse of their deceased for burial and were only allowed access after an intense plea.

“On their way back from the mortuary to the church for the funeral service, the same security personnel stopped them at the checkpoint denying them access, while some youths on motorcycles came down to plead with the security personnel, one of them shot two of the youths and killed one 18-year-old Kenneth Gyang and injured one Emmanuel Pam, the victims were among the mourners conveying corpse from Zawan to Kuru for burial.

“Thereafter, the security personnel started shooting sporadically, scaring all persons in the community, thereby making people abandon their business and vehicles in search of safety.

“Funeral processions have never had such confrontation or prohibition either by order or convention from the security agents at this or any other checkpoint in Jos and its environs. The arbitrary killing of an innocent Kenneth, a promising young man had his precious and sacred life untimely terminated by an officer that ought to have guaranteed his safety.”

Adopting the motion, the House observed a one-minute silence for the victim.