Youths protesting against Sunday killing of their peer by a stray bullet in Kuru, near Jos, Plateau State on Monday destroyed the only bridge in the area.
The Special Task Force Media Officer, Capt. Salisu Mustapha, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Jos on Monday.
Mustapha said, “The youths have destroyed one part of the bridge, only one part is passable and vehicles must queue up to take their turns from opposite directions.”
He confirmed that one person was hit by a stray bullet on Sunday, but rejected the youths’ position that the bullet was fired by soldiers.
The STF spokesman also confirmed that the stray bullet also injured one other youth.
“The bullets were fired indiscriminately by gunmen, who quickly ran away. The bullets were not fired at anyone in particular.
“We want to focus on fishing out the unknown gunmen but the protest by the youths is distracting us,” he said.
Mustapha said that the youths also destroyed street lights, burnt a car and torched the STF checkpoint in the area.
“The youths have also drilled holes on the highway and the STF men have been trying to refill the holes.”
He said, “No fewer than 10 of the protesters have been arrested.”
He added that the STF would go after the unknown gunmen that killed the youth after restoring law and order in Kuru.