Bauchi Community Protests Over Alleged Police Killing Of Two Persons, As CP Orders Investigations
By Khalid Idris Doya
Operatives of the Yelwa Police Division of Bauchi State Police Command Friday had to use canisters of teargas to disperse hundreds of youths who blocked the Dass road to protest alleged killing of two youths by a yet to be Identified Police Officer.
The youths both males and females, gathered in front of the Divisional headquarters burning tyres as well as use of drums and water tanks to block the road forcing road users to divert into Yelwa, Kagadama in order to avoid the obstruction.
They were demanding the release of the killer cop to them as they tried to force their way into the station, a move that was resisted by the policemen on duty.
The youths then started hurling stones and other objects into the station, another development that forced the Policemen to start firing teargas into the crowd to disperse them, they however retreated and regrouped.
It was learnt that on Thursday evening there were heated arguments between some Police operatives who were said to be on patrol with a group of youths who are said to be ‘civilian police’ and were also on patrol of the Gwallameji area.
The heated arguments led to force which made the Police officer allegedly bring out dagger with which he stabbed three of the youths out of which 2 were confirmed dead at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH).
Reacting to the development, Bauchi State Police Command described it as an unfortunate incident, confirming that it was a case of culpable homicide which happened at 10.30pm on Thursday where a member of the Force went berserk and used a dagger to stab three youths.
The State Commissioner of Police, Umar Mamman Sanda who commiserated with the families of the deceased and the people of Bauchi state over the incident, has ordered for a full scale investigation into the matter to unearth circumstances surrounding it.
CP Sanda, in a press statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Police Command, SP Ahmed Wakil, appealed for calm while urging members of the public not to take laws into their hands as the outcome of the investigation will be made public.
He said: “On 24/03/2022 at about 2230hrs, a Patrol team attached to E’ Division while on visibility patrol around a black spot at Rafin zurfi, Yelwa arrested F/no. 519342 PC Lukman Madaki 29yrs of Toro Division attached to Sports Office, Bauchi State Police Command Headquarters”.
According to the statement, in a bid to resist arrest, PC Lukman employed the use of Jack knife, stabbed and injured the following members of the Peace and Security committee attached to the patrol team, namely Abdulmalik Mohammed 22 yrs of Sabon Gida Yelwa, Sadiq 23yrs of Sabon Gida Yelwa and Nazifi Mohammed 19yrs of Yelwan labourer.
“The victims were rushed to ATBU Teaching Hospital Bauchi for treatment where Abdulmalik Mohammed and Sadiq were certified dead by a medical doctor, while Nazifi Mohammed the third victim is currently responding to treatment”.
PPRO Wakil further explained that the suspect has since been arrested and detained while investigation has commenced in earnest.
