JALINGO—Three persons were reported killed by soldiers yesterday at the the venue of All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship campaign at Wukari, Taraba State, following a shoot-out between soldiers and protesting civilians.

Five other persons, who sustained injuries in the clash are currently receiving treatment at Wukari General Hospital.

The incident occurred when the candidate of APC in Taraba State, Sen. Aisha Jumei Arhasan, visited Wukari to solicit for votes for next month’s general election.

Vanguard reliably gathered that youths numbering over two hundred, protested to Atoshi Recreation Center Wukari, venue of the governorship rally to show their dismay to the candidate.

Thomas Aduku, a residence of Wukari, who was at the venue of the rally, told Vanguard that the youths were not allowed entrance into the venue by the security agents who were drafted to secure the venue of the occasion.

“One of the protesters stoned a soldier and the man fell down, prompting other military men there to open fire on the protesters. I saw three persons killed by the soldiers,” the protester said.

Another eye witness told Vanguard that the disagreement between the soldiers and the protesters started when the governorship candidate started spraying money in the air inside the venue of the rally.

“When she started spraying money, those who came out to protest, forced themselves to gain entrance into the venue and they clashed with the soldiers and that was how the soldiers started shooting at the crowd,” the witness told Vanguard.

The bodies of the dead were taken to Wukari General Hospital mortuary, while surviving five others are been admitted at Wukari General Hospital.