A soldier stationed in Bauchi State fatally shot Habibu Aminu Dankasa, a well-known politician on Wednesday. The shooting took place in Lere Village, which is part of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area.
The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident in a phone conversation.
According to Ahmed Wakili, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, the incident occurred after a confrontation between members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Lere Village and soldiers assigned to Operation Safe Haven, a security outfit active in the area.
The trouble began when some PDP members were returning from a campaign event in Lere District. They were traveling in three vehicles when they encountered a checkpoint manned by Operation Safe Haven personnel.
Instead of stopping as instructed, the group continued on their way to Lere town. This action led the soldiers to arrest one of the drivers at his home later in the day.
In response, the group attempted to rescue the detained driver by returning to the checkpoint, which led to the situation escalating. The soldiers opened fire, resulting in the death of Dankasa and injuries to several others.
Following the incident, the police took immediate action.
Wakili stated, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Auwal Muhammad, dispatched a unit of the Mobile Police Force to the area for reinforcement. Additionally, a team of seasoned detectives has been constituted to conduct a thorough, professional, and timely investigation to ensure that justice is served.”
The police have assured the public that the officers involved will be identified and held responsible according to the law. The Commissioner of Police is determined to carry out a comprehensive investigation, employing all necessary protocols to ensure that justice is achieved.
This incident comes just days after a separate case in Kaduna State, where a teenager was also shot and killed by a soldier during the enforcement of a curfew.
