A violent clash broke out between soldiers and secondary school students in Abako town, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State following a dispute over a female student’s earrings.
During the altercation, students set fire to an Army checkpoint after soldiers allegedly opened fire, injuring some of them.
According to Peter Anabde, a teacher at the school, the conflict began when a soldier, who was in a romantic relationship with a student named Veronica, gifted her a pair of earrings.
Trouble started when Veronica wore the earrings to school, violating the dress code.
The head girl seized them as part of her disciplinary duties, which angered Veronica. She later reported the incident to her soldier boyfriend.
“During break time, the head girl went to the market for breakfast but was harassed and assaulted by the soldiers at the checkpoint as punishment for seizing the earrings,” Anabde recounted.
A teacher who intervened at the scene was also allegedly harassed and beaten by the soldiers.
Enraged by the news of the assault, the students mobilized and confronted the soldiers at the checkpoint.
However, the troops overpowered them, firing shots to disperse the crowd. In retaliation, the students used barricaded tyres and wood to set up bonfires around the checkpoint.
Following the incident, the students have demanded the removal of soldiers from the area.
The police area command confirmed the clash, stating that normalcy has since been restored. Meanwhile, the school authorities have threatened legal action against the soldiers, vowing to petition the Chief of Army Staff over their conduct.