Contrary to widespread
reports, the Nigerian
Army on Wednesday denied that its men were involved in the killing
of
four students of
Nasarawa State University, Keffi last
Wednesday.
The students were allegedly
killed by soldiers
who were called in to help quell protest over poor water supply to
their hostels last Monday.
Brigadier General Ibrahim
Attahiru, the Director of Army Public Relations, told journalists in Abuja on
Wednesday that though soldiers from the 177 Guards Battalion in Keffi were
called in to assist the
police in quelling the violent protests, they did not kill any
student of the university.
“What these people are writing is not correct. Soldiers were not deployed and
couldn’t have carried out the shooting. Our men were on patrol duty at Keffi,”
said the Army PRO.
“The students, who were
protesting, had blocked the road but soldiers did not have any altercation with
them. There were the
police and other security agencies, who were on the ground to handle
the situation. There is also this information we have that the
police even recovered some
arms from the students who were protesting,” Brigadier Attahiru added.
The
Police had earlier denied
shooting the students.
Frank Mba, spokesperson
for the
Police said policemen only
help to clear the portion of Abuja-Lokoja highway which was blocked by students
during the protest.
“The policemen that went to the scene only cleared the expressway that was
blocked by the students. Two students were killed and seven others were
hospitalised for injuries sustained during the violent protest,” said Mba.
He added that: “Any
question on the killing should be directed to the Army. They have their Public
Relations unit; the
police were not involved in the shooting.”
Source: PM News
Labels: News