Women and youths in their hundreds yesterday clashed with military personnel in Manchok in Kaura local government area of Kaduna state, after soldiers allegedly tortured volunteers serving as security volunteers in the area.
The soldiers allegedly shot eight locals.
The development led to blockage of all roads leading to the town by the angry protesters, until the soldiers were withdrawn, following the intervention of Chief of Moro’a, Malam Tagwai Sambo, as a move of resolving the conflict that ensured.
Mr. Amos Ninyio, a native of the area who spoke on the cause of the clash, said: “Since the attacks a few weeks ago in our land, the villages decided to organise vigilance in their respective domains to protect themselves, since government can’t guarantee the safety of their lives and properties.
“On Wednesday, the vigilante manning the check point opposite St. Francis Catholic Church, Manchok, stopped a bus with federal government’s number for a search but the driver resisted the search and was eventually searched.
“On reaching the next checkpoint, they told soldiers that they have been robbed of 40,000 and four handsets.
The soldiers in their wisdom did not ask the victims to wait but allowed them to pass and went straight to the volunteers’ checkpoint and started beating them up.
“They apprehended them and gave them beatings of their lives. And that is when the citizens of the land decided to protest for today Thursday which subsequently led to the shooting of the eight or more youths.”
He explained that those shot by the soldiers have been rushed to hospitals in Kafanchan and also Jos in Plateau state.
The chairman of Kaura local government, Hon. Kumai Badu, when contacted, confirmed the incident, but said the differences between soldiers and vigilante team had been resolved.
