By TAYE OBATERU & NDAHI MARAMA
Jos—A hunting festival among the people of Miango Community in Bassa Lacal Government Area of Plateau State went awry, weekend, as five youths from the community were allegedly shot dead by members of the Special Task Force, STF, in the state.

Also, unknown gunmen, yesterday, shot and killed an operative of the Borno State Command of the State Security Service, SSS,  Mr. Ibrahim Malgwi, at Abbagaram ward in Maiduguri metropolis.

Malgwi was killed about 11am when he left his residence in the Low-Cost Housing Estate  for a hair cut at a saloon in Abbaganaram ward.

This development is coming barely 24 hours after some gunmen killed the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Chibok Local Government, Mr. Wanagu Kachiwa, in  the Low-Cost Housing Estate shortly after returning from a church service Sunday.

Confirming the incident to newsmen in Maiduguri, a top SSS official in the state, said  one of their ‘’staff was trailed by gunmen to a saloon on Monday morning where he was shot severally before he gave up the ghost.’’

However,  in Jos, several people also received gunshot wounds as the securitymen allegedly fired into a crowd of rampaging youth, who had allegedly forcefully released two of their arrested colleagues from police custody and torched the police station.

This was even as members of STF, in Jos have arrested three persons in connection with the murder of a Mobile policeman attached to the security outfit during the disturbance in Ryom Local Government Area of Plateau,weekend.

Hunting expedition goes awry

It was gathered that a fracas had broken out between two rival youth groups as they were returning from the hunting expedition to commemorate the festival which forced elders of the community to invite the police in the area.

The police were said to have arrested two of the youths for questioning, but the police station was invaded by a mob which allegedly set those arrested free and set the station and the adjoining Magistrate’s Court ablaze.

The situation became uncontrollable when a reinforcement of security men arrived the scene but were allegedly pelted with stones and other missiles by the rampaging youths following which the securitymen reportedly opened fire.

Police spokesman, Mr. Samuel Dabai, confirmed the incident, but said only one person and not five died while two were injured during the incident.

However, a group of women from the community took to the streets on Monday to protest the killings. The women dressed in black accused the security men of using excessive force to handle the situation thereby worsening it.

However, Capt. Mdahyelya Markus, the Spokesman for the STF, confirmed the arrest of the three suspects yesterday in an interview with newsmen in Jos.

The spokesman said the incident had gone beyond the killing of the policeman, adding thatsome members of the Lukere Fulani community also shot and injured a civilian on the leg.

“The Fulanis, who killed the MOPOL, also shot a civilian on the legs. The civilian is now receiving treatment in a hospital.

“We have succeeded in arresting three of the Fulanis and still combing the area to trace those involved in the killing of our man.’’

Also speaking, the Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Samuel Dabai told NAN that the matter was under investigation and that everywhere was calm.

“It is very unfortunate that the Fulanis could do such a criminal killing of a police officer, who has been in their crisis prone community to maintain peace,’’ Markus added.