SARS operatives allegedly shoot 3 in Jos
- SARS operatives have raided a community in Jos, Plateau state on Monday, January 22
- Three people were shot during the operation
- The operatives claimed they were after some hoodlums in the community but the youths association in the community refuted their claim
Operatives of the police Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) opened fire on a beer joint in Zawang community, Jos, Plateau state, on Monday January 22, shooting three people.
The shooting, according to eyewitnesses, followed an attempt by the operatives to arrest a group of youths, whom the police described as ‘hoodlums’ in a drinking bar that night, Guardian reports.
Legit.ng gathered that the three casualties are Dung Chollom, 45; Dung Chung, 42 and Henry Anthony Dokotri (aka “16”).
Japhet Nnadi, the owner of the beer joint, said the operatives fired randomly when he tried to ask them what their mission was.
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He said: “They tied all the three to one another by the shirts and started brutalizing them, forcing them into their van like animals. I tried to ask what the offence was and they jumped on me too that I must follow them.
“I was just about stepping into the van when I heard gunshots everywhere. They kept shooting and I had to run for cover just as everyone else. Those on the van were shot, one on the head and leg, another was also brushed with a bullet on the head and another on the hand.”
The Plateau state police public relations officer, Matthias Terna Tyopev, however, said the shooting was a raid on a notorious jungle in the community.
He narrated: “Around 8:30p.m. the police raided a notorious jungle located at Dorowa village in Jos South local government area of Plateau where hoodlums were found smoking weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.
“At the point of arrest, there was an exchange of gunfire between the SARS operatives and the hoodlums. As a result, three of the hoodlums were injured and taken to Plateau state specialist hospital, Jos by SARS men.
“Two were treated and discharged while one is still on admission and two of the operatives have been keeping vigil there since yesterday. The SARS operatives also recovered one locally-made pistol with three live cartridges as well as some parcels and wraps of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp at the scene of crime. Thirteen suspects were also arrested at the scene and they are undergoing investigation.”
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Meanwhile, the president of the youth’s association in Dahom Dorowa community, John Ayuba, said the community has not had any record of criminal activities except a gang fight reported to the police.
Describing the actions of the SARS operatives as uncivilized and illegal, he said the youths are tired of police harassment and might consider legal actions if it does not stop.
Legit.ng previously reported that an auto parts dealer in the Owode Onirin area of Lagos state, Lukman Ogundele, died in the custody the SARS operatives, Lagos state police command.
Punch reports that Lukman and his friend, Saheed Abayomi, had been arrested by SARS operatives for facilitating the sale of a stolen Toyota Camry.
The police reportedly apprehended Lukman in the midnight of Friday, December 29, 2017 and took him into custody in Ikeja, where he was detained alongside Abayomi and two others.
Lukman’s family members reportedly searched for him at police stations across the state, until Sunday, December 31, when Abayomi’s mother traced him to the SARS office.
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Source: Legit.ng
