Residents of Lere town in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State are presently in a mourning mood following alleged killing of a young man, Habibu Aminu, and injuring of four by soldiers attached to Operation Safe Haven stationed in the town during a clash with some youths in the area, Daily Post reports.

It was learnt that Aminu who completed his National Youth Service three months ago met his untimely death when the soldiers raided the houses of individuals involved in an altercation at the main checkpoint in Lere.

The clash reportedly occurred on Tuesday, 6 August, 2024 between supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, returning from a local government election campaign.

One of the victims, Babawo Lauwawu, who sustained bullet wounds during the incident told DAILY POST the incident occurred as a result of the enforcement of curfew in Lere.

His words: “Yesterday (Tuesday), shortly after I left our Mai Shayi joint, we heard that a curfew had been imposed on Lere town starting from 10 pm. We didn’t know who imposed it or why, but we all complied and entered our houses around 9 pm,” Lauwawu recounted.

“Unfortunately, around 9 pm, we heard gunshots from the security even before the curfew time while we were inside our houses. During the commotion, I was shot in the leg. We obeyed their directives, but we didn’t know why they were shooting sporadically,” he added.

Confirming the incident in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, 7 august, 2024, the spokesman of the Bauchi State Police Command, Ahmed Wakili, assured that the officers involved in the incident will be identified and held accountable according to the law.

 “It’s important to note that the command swiftly responded to the situation. Upon receiving the information, the Commissioner of Police, Auwal Musa Mohammed, dispatched a unit of the Mobile Police Force to the area for reinforcement,” Wakili stated.

The state police image-maker added that a team of seasoned detectives have been constituted to conduct a professional, diligent, and timely investigation to ensure that justice is served.

“The Commissioner of Police is committed to a meticulous investigation process that utilizes all necessary protocols, including technical and scientific tools. It is crucial to ensure that thorough investigations are carried out to provide justice and resolution in this matter,” he said further.