Woman Killed In Jos As Supporters Of LG Boss Clash With STF

A mid aged woman was killed and several people were injured in Dengi Kanam local government area of Plateau State following a clash between the supporters of the Chairman of the council Dr. Mohammed Saleh Kanam and men of the Special Task Force.

The Special Task Force men prevented the chairman from entering his office.

Kanam was suspended by Governor Jonah Jang for allegedly embezzling the council’s fund and other accusations but Saleh went to a Federal High Court and the court ruled that he should be reinstated immediately.

The supporters who were at the secretariat to accompany the chairman into the office following the court verdict clashed with the STF who started shooting at the crowd and as a result a woman was killed.

 P.M.NEWS gathered that Kanam’s problem with Jang was when he began to accused Governor Jang of shortchanging the councils and vowed to continue to expose Jang if he did not stop tampering with local government funds.

When contacted a member from Dengi who is also the minority leader of the state House of Assembly, Abbas Workdung Adamu, said the appointment of a sole administrator in the person of Mr Danjuma Usman Gar has done more harm than good and called on Jang to heed to this clarion call so that peace can reign in the area.

Workdung accused Jang of deliberately and callously foisting his kith and kins on Kanam LGA and people of the locality have expressed their anger over the action of Jang and advised Jang to make a u-turn in the interest of peace in the locality.

“With heavy heart I intimate you and the world on the ugly security situation in the area.”

He disclosed that Jang removed Kanam despite the ruling of a Federal High court and the directive of the Inspector General of Police that the elected chairman should be allowed to return to his office.

Also, the member representing Kantana state constituency Hon. Sadat Garga said it was more worrisome and bewildering the directive of the state government to security agencies to stop Kanam from going to office with effect from today.

Kanam had resumed office on Wednesday last week following the directive of the Federal High court and the Inspector General of Police peacefully without any problem, but with the current directive of Governor Jang during the state security meeting to restore back Mr Danjuma Usman Gar, the situation is going to be chaotic considering the fact that the elected chairman has already resumed office.

The lawmakers lamented the action of the governor, saying “asking or encouraging the sole administrator to go to office and to continue to make official pronouncements when his appointment has been nullified by a court of competent jurisdiction and the elected chairman already in office is clearly an official incitement of crises which is a gross negation of the spirit of forgiveness declared by Mr Governor recently.”

By Audu Nankpah/Jos