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Soldiers in Taraba State on April 2, 2021 allegedly gunned down five youths who were returning from a wedding. Mallam Bello Jen, whose two sons were among the slain youths, speaks to TYOPUUSU JUSTIN about his quest for justice
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Mallam Bello Aliyu Jen. I am a retired civil servant with the Taraba State Government and I hail from Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of the state. Currently, I am an ex-officio member of the Taraba State Union of Pensioners.
Two of your sons were among the five youths recently killed by soldiers. How did it happen?
No fewer than five youths have been shot dead by soldiers of the Nigerian Army in Baka village in the Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of Taraba State.
According to Daily Post, the youths, who were attending a wedding were riding motorcycles, but the soldiers opened fire on them early on Friday, on the suspicion that they were kidnappers.
File photo used to illustrate story.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers did not interrogate them before opening fire on the youths on motorcycles.
The remains of the youths have been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre in Jalingo.
The soldiers, who were in the community to check the activities of hoodlums terrorising the state, were said to have mistaken the youths for kidnappers.
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Soldiers in Taraba State have killed five youths, including a final year Higher National Diploma (HND) student of the College of Agriculture, Jalingo after they mistook them as kidnappers.
The incident, which occurred on Friday at about 1 am in Baka village of Ardo-Kola Council, led to tension across the state.
The victims, who were said to have been returning to their various residences from a wedding ceremony in Baka, were mistaken for members of a kidnap gang by the soldiers patrolling the area.
Others on the same journey reportedly sustained injuries.
According to reports, bullets wounds were seen on the bodies of the victims when they were brought to the Federal Medical Centre, Mogul.
How Taraba Wedding Guests Were Gunned Down By Soldiers dailytrust.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailytrust.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.