One of the persons shot by police anti-robbery operatives in
Jos, Plateau State, has died, the family has said.
The shooting took place at a bar in Dorowa, near the School
of Health Technology, Zawan, Jos south local government
area.
Henry Dokotri Anthony died about 8 p.m. Thursday, his
uncle, Victor Dokotri, told PREMIUM TIMES.
He said the shooting by SARS was a deliberate attack.
“This is not an issue of a stray bullet, this is an issue of a
deliberate action, as far as I am concerned, this is an
assassination,” he said.
“The police have their own version of the story which they
want to tally with their own position and it is now our own
version against their own version and have even denied
their culpability in this matter.
“From the account I got from a friend of his who was in his
company when the whole thing occurred, they met at a
junction where they call Congo. It’s a Keke Napep stop,
where people usually pick their keke to Kugia and onwards
into Bukuru town.
“Junior (Henry Dokotri) was there with a friend called
Samuel and a lady called Margaret — three of them. Now
for your information, I understand that he came from
Barkin Ladi where he went to collect an indigenisation form
of his elder brother’s wife.
“On invitation of his friend Samuel, who invited him to meet
him and Margaret, the SARS squad swooped on them.
“It was a raid! They came in and were interested in raiding
a joint there at Dorowa, where they call Congo. It’s a
popular area with the locals.
“He was their target because he was in their vehicle. If they
wanted to arrest him, they know what to do because they
are supposed to be professionals in their field. If they want
to demobilise him, they know where to shoot him.
“I understand that he was subjected to body search and
nothing was found incriminating on him and likewise his
friend and the girlfriend. And they were arrested and placed
in the SARS vehicle and taken to their station for whatever
reasons, they knew best.
“We are planning to take legal action. We have written to
the police. We have written to the IGP, we have written to
the commissioner of police and also the SARS commandant,”
he added.
PREMIUM TIMES had reported how the Special Anti-Robbery
Squad, SARS, opened fire at the bar in Dorowa, Jos South
local government area, Plateau state.
Dapip Stanley, who confirmed the incident in a telephone
interview to PREMIUM TIMES, said the shooting occurred on
January 22 at about 9:30 p.m.
According to Mr. Stanley, the police “were not provoked.”
“SARS police personnel entered the drinking joint and
opened fire on the people, many were shot and taken away
by the police. This Morning (Tuesday) we learnt that one of
them died.”
Mr. Stanley said SARS have been threatening the residents.
Dung Chung, one of the victims who sustained a head
injury, told PREMIUM TIMES that one of them died at the
hospital.
According to Mr. Chung, Henry Dokotri (Junior) was still
alive and receiving treatment at the hospital as at the time
of the report.
Confirming the incident to PREMIUM TIMES, the Police
Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Terna Tyopev, said the
injured victims were taken to the Plateau State Specialist
Hospital in Jos.
Mr. Tyopev said 13 people were arrested by the police but
did not disclose their offenses or why an attack was
launched.
A youth leader of Kugiya, Jos South, Osoba Asibor, said the
bar owner gave his own account of the story.
“The shop owner said the youths there were actually
watching wrestling and he (Henry Dokotri) was just
standing by the door side and when the SARS came they just
pushed them inside and that was how they went away with
them.
“As I speak to you now three persons are in remand. I am
presently with the state chairman of the Police Community
Relations Committee, PCRC, we are heading for the
Commissioner of Police (CP’s) office to ensure that those
three persons are released,” he said.
When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the Police Public Relations
Officer, Mr. Tyopev on Monday, he said he would get back
with updates.
He was yet to put a call through or reply text messages as at
the time of this report.