Soldiers brutalize Jos school teachers, students for punishing General’s steward’s son
2 min read
At least five teachers and two students of Government Secondary School Kufang in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State were Friday brutalized and injured by soldiers of the Nigerian Army.
Guided by a woman whose son, a student of the school was allegedly punished by a teacher, three soldiers stormed the school on army green colour pick-up truck with Defense plate number DHQ370, at about 8:45am, it was learnt.
The soldiers according to a staff, Mr. Nanzing Lamtur first pulled a teacher from the office of the school’s Assistant Head of Department, brutalizing him without a reason. But the AHOD, Mr. Mauka Solomon who allegedly punished the student for whom the soldiers were drafted, was their target.
“He (Solomon) was out of the office when the soldiers arrived, but was alerted back when he head his colleague screaming from the brutality. Upon arrival, the woman pointed at him and they left the other teacher after wounding him in the eye and other parts of the body. They beat the HOD to stupor, and took him into their van to be taken away,” said Mr. Lamtur.
Lamtur and other teachers who attempted to inquire what was wrong and rescue their colleagues were equally brutalized, it was gathered. The soldiers reportedly injured two students – Daniel Chukwuka and Wakzing Puslong in the ear and palm respectively. Other students however rushed and locked the school gate while teachers made distress calls.
A team of soldiers and policemen arrived shortly later while the aggressive three were attempting to breakdown the gate and escape with the AHOD. All three were arrested and taken away, while the injured teachers and students were rushed to hospital.
The woman who brought the soldiers reportedly confessed to have been attached with the soldiers by her boss, a retired military General in Jos. She is also likely to be tried if the case goes to court.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to reach Police and Army officials proved abortive but the school shutdown soon after the incident for fear of a repeat.
“We feel unsafe. Our lives are under threat and we might no longer feel free to study in this school. Both the students and teachers are unsafe,” said a female student of the school, Lami Amimu.
