Army checkpoint set ablaze as soldiers, students clash over girlfriend
A confrontation occurred between soldiers stationed in Abako, Benue, and secondary school students, reportedly sparked by an incident involving a soldier’s girlfriend, Veronica, and the school’s head girl.
Troops stationed in Abako town, located in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, clashed with secondary school students over a dispute involving a girl.
The incident led to an army checkpoint being set on fire by the angry students. Reports also indicate that soldiers fired at the students, resulting in some injuries.
According to Peter Anande, a teacher at the school, the trouble began when a soldier, who was in a relationship with a female student named Veronica, bought her a pair of earrings.
Veronica wore the earrings to school, but they were confiscated by the school’s head girl because such accessories were not allowed. Veronica then reported the incident to the soldiers at the nearby checkpoint.
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Anande explained, “While it was break time, the head girl went to the market for breakfast, and at the checkpoint, she was harassed and assaulted by the soldiers for taking the earrings.” He added that a teacher who went to intervene was also harassed and beaten by the soldiers.
As news of the harassment spread, students gathered and attacked the soldiers at the checkpoint. In response, the soldiers opened fire, but the students managed to overpower them. They then set the checkpoint on fire and blocked the road with burning tyres and wood.
Tension rose in Katsina-Ala as local residents, who had previously expressed concerns about the soldiers’ presence in the area, questioned why troops, who were supposed to be addressing serious security issues, were involved in a conflict with secondary school students.
Many residents called for the soldiers to be removed from Abako town.
The local police confirmed the situation but assured that normalcy had been restored. The school, in response to the incident, stated that they would hire a lawyer to file a petition to the Chief of Army Staff in Abuja.
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