A villager told our correspondent by telephone on Friday morning that the policemen were shot and killed while their guns were carted away at about 10pm on Thursday.

A witness said the Jootar killings involved three friends whose names were listed as, Fred Akaayar, a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication at the Federal University, Wukari in Taraba State; Aondo Ayange Apever and Shiaondo Kachina.

The witness told our correspondent that the three friends were unwinding at a relaxation centre in Jootar when some yet-to-be ascertained gunmen who rode on a motorcycle shot at them.