Commotion As Nigerian Student Is Shot De@d By Soldiers In Benue Community

Miss Gloria Songo, a student of ATM Science and Technical College Jato Aka, has been shot dead by soldiers of Operation Whirl Stroke, who were deployed to combat banditry in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.

The late Gloria was one among the three students that were shot by the soldiers on Tuesday and died yesterday in a hospital.

Students of the college, each bearing a poster, marched round Jato Aka town, singing in remembrance of the late Miss Songo, who they described as disciplined and hardworking.

The students wept uncontrollably on major streets of Jato Aka amid tension. They called for the soldiers to be withdrawn from their community.

The death of Miss Gloria raised the number of soldiers killed to three in Jato Aka, and Turan within four days.

Recall that soldiers from Operation Whirl Stroke opened fire on mourners, who were returning from a burial, killing two students on the spot, while others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the hospital.

Police Public Relationship Officer, Edet Edeme, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said hoodlums opened fire on soldiers on patrol and the soldiers returned fire.

There are protests in Jato Aka and other adjoining settlements against the action of the soldiers

Elders of Jato Aka, who spoke to The Nation, wondered why soldiers who were deployed to protect the harmless community members, turned around to kill them.