Tension erupted in Bukuru town, Jos South local government area of Plateau State, on Monday when security operatives allegedly shot dead a trader and injured two others.
The incident occurred during an operation enforcing a ban on roadside trading by a combined security task force, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Police, and Operation Rainbow.
In response, angry youths blocked roads and burned tires, causing panic among residents of the Bukuru general area. The Youth Leader of Bukuru Community, Bello Muhammad, confirmed the incident, stating it began around 2:00 PM.
“Some traders were going about their normal business when suddenly armed security personnel deployed by JMBD descended on them. They shot three of our younger brothers, killed one, and injured two others,” Muhammad said.
One of the victims was Muhammad Nasiru.
His father recounted the tragic event, “I am the father of Muhammad Nasiru. The security operatives went to the area where my son and others were selling phones, destroying the cardboards used to display the phones. I was called and informed that he and others had been shot, and that Nasiru had died.”
The unrest led to the destruction of more than five vehicles by the angry youths. The Spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, had not responded to inquiries at the time of this report.