Some residents of Mararaban Jama’a, a suburb in Jos South LGA of Plateau State, heading to burial on Monday morning clashed with military personnel at a checkpoint, resulting in the death of one person and the injury of another.
According to reports the mourners were on their way from the mortuary to bury the body of a recently deceased loved one when they clashed with security operatives at a checkpoint in the area.
A source told DAILY POST: “When the mourners got to the checkpoint mounted by operatives of the Special Taskforce codenamed Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), responsible for the maintenance of peace in the state, those on motorcycles in their numbers were asked to drop and push their motorcycles, but they tried to tell the security agents that they were on their way for a funeral and shouldn’t be made to follow that protocol.
“The security personnel insisted they obey the order, while the mourners refused, and when they insisted on passing, the personnel fired at them, and in the process, one person was killed and two others injured.”
A resident of the community who gave his name as Michael Chung said: “It is unfortunate that security operatives, whose constitutional responsibility is to protect the lives and property of citizens, would be involved in such an act.
“These people told you they were going for a funeral, and you saw their outlook, some carrying posters of the deceased and leaves, but you engage in arguments with them; what about the civil-military relations being talked about?
“For me, I didn’t see any reason for argument; they should have just allowed them to pass peacefully for their funeral, and no one would have heard about the burial.”
It was also gathered that in the process, a vehicle belonging to the security personnel was set ablaze.
Another source informed DAILY POST that after the clash, OPSH operatives reinforced and returned to unleash mayhem on the community.
Residents were reportedly pursued out of their homes, with houses and vehicles destroyed and some members of the community arrested.
Efforts to get a reaction from the Plateau State Police Command were not successful at the time of filing this report.
Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has dismissed reports suggesting that he is planning to defect from the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a statement issued by Tambuwal’s spokesperson, Prince Daniel, on X, the reports circulating on social media were described as false and baseless. The statement insisted that the former governor of Sokoto State had no plans to join the ruling party.
The position was contained in a statement issued on Monday by Prince Daniel, Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the senator, on behalf of the AWT Media Office.
The statement said Tambuwal’s longstanding relationships with politicians across party lines should not be interpreted as evidence of a planned political realignment.
According to the media office, photographs and video clips circulating online did not establish that the senator was negotiating to defect to the APC.
It added that exchanging greetings or interacting with members of other political parties should not be mistaken for a change in political allegiance.
“Senator Tambuwal remains firmly committed to the ADC,” the statement said, adding that his focus was on strengthening the party, building broad cooperation and mobilising Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The media office urged Nigerians to focus on the country’s pressing economic, security and governance challenges rather than engage in unsubstantiated political speculation.
It maintained that Tambuwal remained committed to accountable leadership, democratic values and the welfare of Nigerians.
The statement also called on media organisations and social media commentators to verify reports concerning the senator with his media office before publication.
“Speculation must never be presented as fact,” it added.
The Senior Political Assistant to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Demola Olarewaju, on Monday accused President Bola Tinubu of “doing politics and wickedness” since assuming office in 2023.
Olarewaju said that instead of ensuring good governance, Tinubu had been busy wooing state governors to support his re-election bid in 2027.
He made the remark in reaction to an explanation by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, on why Tinubu would not visit all states to campaign.
Speaking during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, Tinubu said he could not visit all states for campaign activities because he would be focusing on governance.
Commenting on Tinubu’s position, Alake said the president had chosen 12 states to visit because they were “election deciders.”
Alake said, “The 12 states that President Tinubu chose to campaign in are actually election deciders; he should be commended for that. He is not going to abandon governance for campaigning.”
Faulting Alake’s remarks, Olarewaju insisted that Tinubu had no achievements to campaign on.
In a post on X, he wrote, “Bola Tinubu has been doing politics and wickedness since Day One instead of good governance, he was wooing Governors instead.
“Now time for campaign, but no achievement to campaign with. Instead, they want to pretend he’s too busy with governance. #TinubuMustGo abeg.”