A soldier attached to the Plateau State internal security agency, Operation Rainbow, has stabbed and killed a Police Sergeant in Barakin Ladi Local Government Area of the state. The incident according to a source has heightened the already volatile security atmosphere in the state.

The incident according to Police source happened on Sunday during a scuffle between soldiers at a checkpoint and the deceased Policeman, all of them attached to the Special Task Force in Jos.

Three other civilians were reportedly also injured during the free-for-all fight.

The incident, according to witnesses, occurred when some Operation Rainbow operatives and some councillors from the local government area were returning from monitoring the continuous voter registration exercise in the area.

It was gathered that when they approached a checkpoint, an argument ensued between them and the soldiers. “An STF soldier allegedly stabbed the Operation Rainbow Police personnel in his groin,” the source said.

The Policeman identified as Chollom Pam, was said to have died instantly before any help could reach him.

The incident was said to have heightened tension the next day when the youths of the area protested the action of the soldiers by blocking the Barakin Ladi – Mangu road, forcing serious traffic jam on the busy road that led to the central and southern zones of the state. Commuters plying the road were left stranded for hours.

The source said, “About 7pm on Sunday, some councillors from my council and members of the Operation Rainbow security were returning home after monitoring the voter registration.

“Approaching an STF check-point, they stopped for security checks but instead of the STF to do their duty they started insulting our councillors without provocation. They even threatened to shoot them. One of my legislators was dragged out of our official vehicle.

“It was at this point that the Operation Rainbow operatives tried to explain to the solider that they were returning from an official function, but an STF member instead brought out a knife and stabbed him on his private part and he died instantly”.