Kaduna State College Of Edu Students, Soldiers Clash Over Colleague’s Death

Some students of the Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya in southern Kaduna on Monday protested the killing of six worshippers including one of their colleagues by soldiers on Sunday.

The students, joined by some residents of the area, attacked soldiers who fought back thus forcing the students to flee the institution.

Confirming the incident, a security source in Kaduna told SaharaReporters that the clash occurred in Gidan Waya near Kafanchan in the troubled southern Kaduna area of Kaduna State.

“We received a coded message about a clash between soldiers and some of the local residents,” said the source. The clash resulted in a few deaths. However, we are yet to confirm the cause of the fight and the actual number of casualty.”

Our correspondent tried to reach Col. Sani Usman, the spokesperson for the One Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, for further details, but was unable to get him as of the time of filing this report.

The clash was sequel to the death of six people including a student of the college when soldiers shot at worshippers during a church service in the town on Sunday.

The soldiers had opened fire on the worshippers, killed six and injured three others.

The incident occurred at St. Peters Catholic Church, Gidan-Waya in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

It was learnt that trouble started when a soldier allegedly ordered that a roadblock mounted in front of the church be dismantled.

But the church security men allegedly disobeyed the order. Not satisfied, the soldier, it was learnt, mobilised his colleagues to the scene and they allegedly opened fire on the worshippers.

Livid with anger, the residents of the area set ablaze a block of flats being occupied by the military personnel at a staff quarters belonging to the Kaduna State College of Education Gidan- Waya

Two guns belonging to the soldiers, it was learnt, were carted away.

A resident, Bulbs Jatau, said six people were killed during the incident while a block of flats occupied by some army personnel was razed by the residents.

A 200-level student of the college was said to be among the people killed by the soldiers.

However, another eyewitness, who would not want his name in print, said riot policemen drafted from Kafanchan to disperse protesting youths and women were responsible for the tragic event.He said the policemen shot canisters of tear gas to disperse them.

The incident, it was learnt, led to the death of four persons.

The Chairman of the Jema’a Local Government, Ali Kalat, did not respond to our correspondent’s enquiries on the incident.