There was tension and chaos in Abako town, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, as soldiers stationed at a nearby checkpoint clashed with secondary school students over a dispute involving a female student, leading to the army checkpoint being set on fire.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the altercation began when a soldier, reportedly being in a relationship with a student named Veronica, purchased a pair of earrings for her.
Veronica, a student at a local secondary school, wore the earrings to class, but they were confiscated by the school’s head girl, as such accessories were prohibited by the school’s rules.
According to a teacher at the school, Peter Anande, Veronica reported the incident to the soldiers at the checkpoint, seeking their intervention.
Anande further explained that during break time, the head girl went to a nearby market for breakfast.
At the checkpoint, she was allegedly harassed and assaulted by the soldiers for taking the earrings.
The situation escalated when a teacher who attempted to intervene on behalf of the head girl was reportedly beaten and harassed by the soldiers.
Enraged by the assault, a group of students gathered and confronted the soldiers at the checkpoint.
In retaliation, the soldiers opened fire, injuring several students.
However, the students managed to overpower the soldiers, and in a show of defiance, they set the army checkpoint on fire.
They also blocked the road with burning tyres and wood, further intensifying the standoff.
The incident left the community in shock, with several residents calling for the removal of the soldiers from Abako town due to their heavy-handed response.
The local police confirmed the occurrence of the clash, but assured that normalcy had been restored in the area following their intervention.
Authorities are yet to release an official statement on the injuries sustained during the confrontation.
The army has also not commented on the incident as of the time of writing.
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