Tension has gripped Ajowa- Akoko community
in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State, following the
alleged killing of a 13-year-old Fulani boy, Usman Adamu, by a soldier
on Wednesday.....
Also, one
other Fulani man, Abdulahi Kayejo, was injured as a result of the
gunshot fired by soldiers from a checking point close to the community.
The incident
had forced many residents of the agrarian community to abandon their
homes for fear of attack by the kinsmen of victims.
There were three accounts of the incident given separately by the police, the Nigerian Army authorities and the community.
A source in the community said the incident occurred when an argument ensued between the soldiers and some Fulani men.
The source
said the argument broke out when the Fulani men were engaging in
acrobatic display near the checking point, which did not go down well
with the soldiers who ordered them to leave the area.
It was gathered that a soldier beat the Fulani man who also retaliated and this subsequently resulted in firing of gunshots.
One of the gunshots was said to have hit the 13-year- old boy who was returning from school.
The army
authorities’ account, which was given by the Assistant Director, Army
Public Relations at the 32 Artillery Brigade, Owena Barack, Akure, Major
Ojo Adelegan, said the gunshots were fired as self-defence when the
soldiers were attacked by the Fulani men.
Adelegan said the soldiers went to the Ajowa town following a report that some strange Fulani men just arrived the town.
He said the soldiers were attacked when they got to the town and this made them to defend themselves.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph, said the command had started investigation into the incident.
He said the
preliminary investigation revealed that the incident was sequel to a
disagreement between one Fulani man and another one named Adamu Kai, 52.
Joseph said
when the crisis ensued between the two men, Kai went to the military
checking point and invited a soldier to deal with the other man.
The PPRO said the police have arrested Kai just as the injured person was being treated.
Joseph said
the police had begun full investigation into the matter to ascertain the
person that fired the shot that hit the two persons.
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