From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Mwaghavul Youth Movement in Mangu local government area of Plateau has called for investigation into an alleged killing of the Secretary of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement, Mangu Halle District, Mr. Fwangshak Dawuk, by personnel attached to a military convoy in Jakatai, Mangu local council.
Dawuk was said to have been killed on Sunday at about 4 pm during a confrontation with the security personnel .
In a a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Mwaghavul Youth Movement, Tubwot Joël Sunday on behalf of the President, Mwaghavul Youth Movement Kinsman Jonathan Yusuf, the incident occurred after an attack on Lawuru in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area, a neighbouring community to Jakatai, by suspected Fulani militias,
The statement said that following the attack, and given the proximity and shared border between the communities, Mwaghavul youths in Jakatai mobilised to keep watch over their community and remain vigilant against any possible spillover of the attack.
According to eyewitness accounts as gathered by the youths, a convoy of soldiers responding to the incident opened fire, resulting in the death of Dawuk, who was reportedly carrying out community vigilance duties at the time.
The statement said, “To say what followed has raised even more disturbing questions is an understatement. The deceased was reportedly picked up by the soldiers and taken to Barkin-Ladi General Hospital, where the military personnel allegedly presented him to medical personnel as an emergency case without immediately disclosing that the individual was already dead.
“By the time medical personnel discovered the true condition of the victim, the soldiers had reportedly left the hospital premises”
The youths said that they found this account deeply troubling and unacceptable.
They therefore wants an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing, the removal of the victim’s body from the scene, and the subsequent conduct of the soldiers.
“The public deserves to know why a youth leader who was keeping vigilance over his community was shot, who gave the order to open fire, what exactly transpired between the soldiers and the youths, and why the body was taken to a hospital under the circumstances reported by witnesses.
“We also appeal to the military authorities to immediately preserve all operational records relating to the deployment, including the identity of the convoy, personnel involved, command structure, communication logs and other relevant evidence that could assist the investigation.
“The death of Fwangshak Dawuk must not be dismissed as another casualty in the cycle of insecurity because a man who went out to help keep his community safe must not become another unanswered statistic.
The Media Officer of the Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), Capt. Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, could not be reached for comments. His phone was switched off when our correspondent tried to contact him
(The Sun)