By: Bayero Ade
A violent confrontation erupted between soldiers and secondary school students in Abako town, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, following a disagreement over a female student’s earrings.
According to promptnews, during the clash, students reportedly set fire to an army checkpoint after soldiers allegedly opened fire, injuring some students.
According to Peter Anabde, a teacher at the school, the dispute started when a soldier, said to be in a romantic relationship with a student named Veronica, gifted her a pair of earrings. However, when Veronica wore them to school, the head girl confiscated them, citing a violation of the school’s dress code. Upset by the action, Veronica reported the matter to her soldier boyfriend.
Later, during the break period, the head girl went to the market for breakfast but was confronted and assaulted by soldiers at the checkpoint, apparently as punishment for seizing the earrings. A teacher who attempted to intervene was also allegedly harassed and beaten by the soldiers.
Outraged by the attack on their peers and teacher, the students mobilized and confronted the soldiers at the checkpoint. In response, the soldiers reportedly fired shots to disperse the crowd, leading to further unrest. In retaliation, the students set up barricades with burning tyres and wood around the checkpoint.
Following the unrest, students have demanded the removal of soldiers from the area. The police area command confirmed the incident, stating that calm has since been restored. Meanwhile, school authorities have condemned the soldiers’ actions and threatened legal action, vowing to petition the Chief of Army Staff over the matter.
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