10 killed at beer parlour in Jos. Special Task Force in charge of security Accused

FOLLOWING the gruesome killing of eight people at a beer parlour in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State on Monday night, the death toll from the incident has increased to 10, while women in the local government area trooped out on Tuesday to protest the killing.

Even as the people in the area have alleged that the act was perpetuated by some men in uniform in a Toyota Hilux van belonging to the Special Task Force in charge of security in the state, the STF has, however, denied involvement of his men.

According to a statement issued by the Special Task Force, signed by its Media Officer, Captain Salisu Mustapha which was made available to Nigerian Tribune in Jos, the attack took place at about 8.30 p.m. on Monday when some unknown gunmen stormed a beer parlour christened “S.K Beer Parlour” at Hiepang in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of the state.

According to the statement, the gunmen opened fire indiscriminately on customers and killed eight people on the spot, while two others later died at the hospital as a result of gunshot wounds.

Miffed by the incident, inhabitants of the local government, mostly women trooped out on Tuesday to protest the attack, alleging that those who carried out the act were in military uniform and came in a Hilux van belonging to the Special Task Force.

A cross section of the protesters who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune alleged that one of those who carried out the killings was apprehended and is now receiving treatment at the Plateau State Specialist Hospital.

When Nigerian Tribune called at the Specialist Hospital, there was a pandemonium when those who thronged the hospital to catch a glimpse of the arrested culprit confronted some policemen who came to ascertain if the man was actually one of them.

Responding to the allegation that those who carried out the act came in a Hilux van belonging to the STF, the Media officer of the Force, Captain Salisu Mustapha, denied the involvement of the STF in the killing, adding that none of his men was involved “in such uncivilised act.”

Meanwhile, the chairman, Management Committee of Barkin Ladi Local Government Council, Honourable Emmanuel Loma, has called on the Chief of Defence Staff to investigate alleged involvement of men of the Special Task Force in killings around the council area.

Speaking with newsmen over the latest killings in the area, the chairman said those within the vicinity of the attack confirmed that some people in a Hilux van carried out the killing.

According to him, in the process, one Corporal Salisu Gidado, a mobile policeman attached to the Special Task Force who wore the same jalabiya dress with the attackers was identified by survivors