Personnel of Operation Safe Haven, a special security taskforce maintaining peace in Plateau and some parts of Bauchi and Kaduna states, have allegedly killed a…

Personnel of Operation Safe Haven, a special security taskforce maintaining peace in Plateau and some parts of Bauchi and Kaduna states, have allegedly killed a 23-year-old herder, Abubakar Musa, in Donkasa community of Jos North LGA of Plateau State.

City & Crime learnt that the incident occurred around 2am while members of the community were sleeping.

According to the Fulani community, the incident happened when personnel from the operation arrived in the area and started shooting sporadically in an attempt to make some arrests, but in the process, shot Abubakar to death without any justification or reason.

Father of the deceased, Jibrin Abubakar, while narrating the incident said, ‘’I was at home when a call came in that soldiers came to the community, arrested three persons and shot death Abubakar. This is not proper because Abubakar, being an innocent person, doesn’t deserve this. We don’t know our offence. Those who have committed this dastardly act have committed a big mistake. If someone commits a crime, the person should be investigated before any action is taken against him or her. It is a crime against humanity.’’

Asiya Muhammad, the mother to the victim, condemned the killing, adding that all other three persons arrested are from the community.

She said “They should have killed me instead of my son because he is still young and has left children behind. The soldiers that committed this crime have indeed cheated on me, his wife and children.’’

Responding on behalf of the Operation, the Chief of Staff of the Operation, Brig Gen MO Agi, during the funeral said, “The GOC has sent his condolences to the immediate family of the deceased and the entire Fulani community. The GOC has ordered an immediate investigation into the matter and I assured you that things like this will never happen again. I assured you that whoever is involved, will be finished. I want to appeal to all of you, on behalf of the GOC, to be calm. We know it is painful. But you have to be patient and see what is going to happen.’’