From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Three students of Government Science Secondary School Jato-Aka, in Kwande LGA of Benue State, have been killed by stray bullets during a fierce gun duel between military troops and bandits in the area.
Our correspondent gathered that the troops also neutralised one bandit during the gun battle which occurred on Tuesday, September 30, at about 4 p.m.
Locals who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation narrated that trouble started when men of the Nigerian Army attached to a Chinese mining firm stationed at Tarkom, a settlement along the Jato-Aka–Kashimbila road, were approached to escort some youths to Ikpengezwa, another settlement along the same route, to bury the remains of their district head of Nzaav, Zaki Hanave Laha.
The source said the burial committee had made available N470,000 to the soldiers to enable them escort the youths to the village for the burial of their chief.
The source claimed that the soldiers turned down the offer of N470,000 from the burial committee, which angered the youths who decided to take the corpse to the village for burial by themselves. This development, the source further said, may have offended the army who went after the youths.
It was while the burial was ongoing that the soldiers stormed the area and began chasing the youths. In the process, a young man identified as Mr Iorsuur, who attempted to inquire about the situation, was allegedly shot dead on the spot.
The source also stated that before their very eyes, a second and third victim, who were students, were also gunned down and later died in the hospital. It was also alleged that the body of the first victim, Mr Iorsuur, was whisked away by the soldiers to an undisclosed location.
These developments were said to have angered the students who, in protest, followed them to their station where the soldiers allegedly still started shooting at them.
“Left with no other option, the students and youths vented their anger on the palace and home of Mue-Ter Ichongo, Chief Simon Baver and razed both down, calling on authorities to take their soldiers away.”
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Benue State command, DSP Udeme Edet said she denied that the students were attacked but were killed by stray bullets when soldiers engaged bandits in a gun duel.
In her own words: “It is not the killing of students; the military team was coming back from their patrol and on their way sighted some hoodlums with firearms on a bike. While chasing them the hoodlums opened fire at the military and the military repelled them. It was in that process that unknowingly stray bullets hit three students of Government Science Secondary School Jato-Aka.
“On arrival at the hospital, sadly one of the students was confirmed dead by the doctor, while the two others are responding to treatment. Meanwhile investigation is ongoing.
It was gathered that the Chairman of Kwande Local Government, Hon Vitalis Neji, Ter Kwande, HRH Engr Timothy Ahile and the President-General of Kwande United People’s Organization, Comrade Aloko Nachi Simon have jointly visited on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 to identify with the people.
The Chairman of Kwande Local Government and ALGON Chairman of Benue State, Hon Vitalis Neji, represented by his deputy, Mrs Iortsor, lamented the killings describing it as unfortunate.
He called on the people to remain calm, assuring them of government action to avoid a repeat.
The President-General of Kwande United People’s Organization, Comrade Aloko Nachi Simon said the organization has taken the bold step of petitioning the Army headquarters and taking legal action. He promised to settle the hospital bills of the victims.
Ter Kwande, Engr Timothy Ahile has asked the military to leave the place with an appeal on the people to remain calm to avoid escalation of the already bad situation.
He promised to tell the Governor that they need only the Police and Civil Protection Guards saying: “They have killed my children enough.”
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