Group Demands Justice For 2 Women Killed In Plateau Community

The Berom Educational and Cultural Organisation (BECO) Worldwide has demanded justice for two women killed during a security operation in Gero community, Jos South local government area of Plateau State, declaring that “enough is enough” over the recurring violence and insecurity in the area.

The incident, which occurred yesterday, sparked tension in the community, with angry residents protesting and vandalising parts of the Jos South Local Government Secretariat.

The two women were shot dead behind the Jos South Local Government Secretariat, Gero, under circumstances that remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.

However, some community members accused security operatives of being responsible for the killing, a claim that could not be independently verified.

President of BECO Worldwide, Da Gyang Dudu Dalyop, who spoke with journalists in Jos yesterday, called for a thorough investigation into the incident, alleging that the deaths resulted from poor communication, lack of community engagement and excessive use of force by security operatives.

Dalyop said the affected community had endured years of attacks and insecurity, making residents highly sensitive to unfamiliar movements, particularly those involving armed personnel.

According to him, the security operatives were in the area to inspect a location, but residents grew suspicious because they were not informed of the mission’s purpose.

He said the situation could have been avoided if community leaders had been engaged beforehand.

“The people have been living with constant attacks. They have gone through a deep crisis and are very sensitive to any movement they do not understand.

“There should have been proper sensitisation and explanation to the community.

Security operations cannot be carried out in isolation without involving the people who are affected,” he said.

BECO president further alleged that the operatives fired warning shots before shooting at the women, questioning the use of force against unarmed civilians.

“I do not see any reason why maximum force should be used on women who were not carrying weapons or posing any threat. We believe there was an overuse of power, and this must be investigated,” he stated.

Dalyop called on the Commissioner of Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), military authorities and other security agencies to investigate the incident and establish what led to the deaths.

He also questioned the level of coordination among security agencies, asking why relevant commanders and local security authorities were allegedly not involved before the operation.

BECO president urged the government to address the security challenges confronting communities in Plateau.

“We have had more than enough. We are losing people, and the youth are becoming restless. We plead with the government to tackle insecurity.”

He disclosed that two women died from the incident, while another victim was receiving treatment in a hospital and was in critical condition.

Dalyop appealed to authorities to ensure that future security deployments involve traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to prevent misunderstandings and strengthen cooperation between security agencies and communities.

“We are all security partners. Nobody should treat security in isolation. Community leaders must be carried along whenever there is any form of deployment,” he said.