The Benue State Police Command has provided details on the circumstances that led to the death and injuries of students in Jato-Aka, Kwande Local Government Area, during an exchange of gunfire between soldiers and suspected hoodlums.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Udeme Edet, said the learners were not direct targets of the military.
He explained that the situation unfolded when troops on patrol encountered armed men on a motorcycle.
“While chasing them, the hoodlums opened fire at the military, and the military repelled them. It was in that process that unknowingly, stray bullets hit three students,” Edet clarified.
According to him, the affected students were taken to a nearby hospital, where one was confirmed dead on arrival, while two others are still receiving medical attention and are said to be in stable condition.
Edet added that the command has opened investigations to determine the full circumstances of the incident.
The development has increased tension in Jato-Aka, with community members expressing fears about the safety of civilians, particularly schoolchildren, amid security operations.
Benue: Police explain how military crossfire led to death of student in Jato-Aka