In a significant development, the House of Representatives has tasked Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, the Commandant of Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Jos, with investigating the alleged killing of Kenneth Gyang and the incident of sporadic shooting by task force personnel at a security checkpoint in Maraban Jama’a Vwei, Kuru, Jos.
The resolution to launch the investigation came following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance, presented by Dachung Musa Bagos (PDP, Plateau), during the Tuesday plenary session.
Bagos highlighted that on June 5, 2023, an unrest occurred at a security checkpoint in Maraban Jama’a Vwei, Kuru, involving security personnel and some constituents.
According to the lawmaker, his constituents were en route to a funeral but were halted by the Special Task Force (Operation Safe Haven) stationed at the well-known Vwei (Mararaban Jama’a) Kuru in the Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The legislator argued that the people pleaded with the security personnel to allow them to proceed to the mortuary to retrieve the corpse of their deceased for burial. After intense pleading, they were granted access.
However, when they were returning from the mortuary to attend the funeral service at the church, the same security personnel stopped them at the checkpoint, denying them access. During this encounter, some youths on bikes approached the security personnel to request passage. Shockingly, one of the security personnel fired shots, resulting in the death of 18-year-old Mr. Kenneth Gyang and the injury of Emmanuel Pam. These victims were among the mourners escorting the corpse from Zawan to Kuru for burial.
Subsequently, the security personnel began firing sporadically, causing panic and forcing people to abandon their businesses and vehicles in search of safety.
The lawmaker emphasized that funeral processions have never encountered such confrontations or prohibitions from security agents at this or any other checkpoint in Jos and its surroundings. He condemned the arbitrary killing of an innocent young man, Kenneth, whose promising life was untimely terminated by an officer who should have ensured his safety.
In response to the motion, the House observed a minute of silence as a solemn tribute to the victim who lost his life during the incident.
This mandate to investigate the killing and shooting incident underscores the commitment of the House of Representatives to ensuring accountability and justice. The probe aims to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the incident and hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.