Nigeria Police chief, Ibrahim Idris

The Police in Nasarawa said eight of its officers of the command had been detained in connection with alleged shooting to death of two persons in the state.

Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Abubakar Bello, disclosed this on Thursday in Lafia while briefing newsmen.

Bello said the two persons were killed in Lafia during the recent visit of the National President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, to the state.

He said that the case had been taken over by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Police Headquarters for full investigation.

He said that the doctor, who conducted autopsy on the two victims “said that one died from injuries sustained from hard object while the other died from a pallet’’.

The commissioner, however, said that the pallet extracted from the deceased did not match the gun used by policemen stationed at the Government House gate.

He added that the outcome of the investigation would unravel the truth behind the incident.

He disclosed that he had directed Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in the state to enlighten officers on the rules guiding the use of arms.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the NLC president was in Nasarawa on Friday to hold talks with the state government over the protracted industrial dispute in the state.

Waba told newsmen in Lafia that unknown policemen shot four workers at the gate of the government house, while they were awaiting the outcome of the NLC meeting with Gov. Umaru Al-Makura.

He said that one of the shot workers died instantly, while another died later at the National Hospital in Abuja where he was referred to for further treatment.

Workers in the state had embarked on an indefinite strike following the decision of the state government to slash their salaries by 50 per cent. (NAN)