IT seems the spate of violence in Borno State is far from abating as gunmen on Monday killed two forest guards (names withheld) at the Sambisa Games Reserves camp.
In a related development, there was tension Tuesday in Mikang Council of Plateau State as a police inspector was shot dead by an army corporal.
The Games Reserves is located 55 kilometres away from Maiduguri, the state capital, a place the Joint Task Force (JTF) last Thursday uncovered a Boko Haram training camp and killed 17 suspects
According to an eyewitness, the victims were killed because they were alleged to be informants to JTF, which led to the killing of Boko Haram members in the area.
He said: "Some gunmen on two motorcycles invaded the Sambisa Games Reserves at about 9.00 p.m. on Monday and attacked one of the reserves' residential camps and shot two forest guards.
"On hearing about the attack, other forest guards had to flee into the forests and as I am speaking to you now, two of our guards were still missing, while the bodies of the killed guards have been transported to Maiduguri for autopsy and further identification by relations."
Spokesman of Borno State Police Command, Gidion Jibrin, also confirmed the incident, adding that two other forests guards were still missing.
He said the police and men of JTF were still combing the area as the gunmen, may still be hiding in the bush.
Another eyewitness who spoke to journalists, said that at about 12.30 p.m. yesterday, an argument ensued between the deceased and an army corporal which was later settled by other military personnel.
He further added that the corporal, not satisfied with the pleas from his colleagues later went ahead to shoot the policeman.
He added: "We were so shocked when after 30 minutes we heard gunshots and when we got to the scene of the incident, we discovered that the policeman was shot by the army corporal."
He further gave the name of the dead policeman as Inspector Dou.
Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Deputy Superintendent John Omuogbo, said "an argument ensued between the two men, which led to the killing of the police officer."
He said the corporal had been arrested and would soon be arraigned after investigations were completed.
He, however, called on residents of the area to remain calm and not to take laws into their hands.
The Guardian