Jos Bloody Engagement: 22 killed, 21 Rescued, 12 Arrested
Following the shaky situation over the recent killing of 6, in what seemed to be a continuation of the recent violent engagements, Plateau Police Command has confirmed 22 persons killed, 21 rescued and 12 arrested on Saturday following the outbreak of fresh violence along Rukuba road axis of the city.
In the Nation’s report, no fewer than 22 corpses were conveyed in two Hilux vans from the crisis spot to Plateau Specialist Hospital mortuary.
Though the violence has been quelled by soldiers drafted from the Special Task Force (STF) on security, the city is still enveloped in palpable fears and tension.
In the past two days, Irigwe youths have repeatedly announced they were conveying the corpses of their slain members for burial in Bassa on Saturday.
They had set out in a convoy for the burial on Saturday morning when violence broke out along the way at Rukuba road.
Confirming the incident, Plateau police spokesman, ASP, Gabriel Ubah, said: “On 14/08/2021 at about 0928hrs, the Plateau State Police Command received call on 14/08/2021 received a distress call that a group of attackers suspected to be Irigwe youths and their sympathisers along Rukuba Road of Jos North LGA attacked a convoy of five buses with Muslim faithful who were coming back from the Annual Zikr prayer in Bauchi State and heading to Ikare in Ondo State.
“Unfortunately, twenty-two (22) persons were killed and fourteen injured in the attack.
“Upon receipt of the report, a team of Police personnel, the military and other sister agencies were immediately mobilised to the scene where Seven victims were rescued and six suspects arrested.
“The Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, CP Edward Egbuka, along with the GOC 3-Division, Major General Ibrahim Ali, also visited the scene and ordered for a discreet investigation to fish out other perpetrators of this barbaric act at large.
“The CP warned that those that perpetrated this dastardly act & others that incited it will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
Troops of Operation Safe Haven deployed to restore law and order in a statement made available to newsmen in Jos said that on Saturday they swiftly responded to distress calls that suspected hoodlums blocked Jos North Junction along Rukuba road in Jos North LGA of Plateau State and attacked some commuters.
Governor Simon Lalong condemned killings in a statement by his Director of Press, Simon Macham.
It reads in part: “Governor Simon Lalong has warned trouble makers bent on fomenting trouble in Plateau State to desist as the government will not allow any form of lawlessness to disrupt the peace of the State.
“Lalong said the attacks on innocent citizens no matter their backgrounds will never be tolerated in Plateau State and those who are found to be behind such attacks will be dealt with decisively to serve as deterrence and restore public order.
“The Governor however commends security agencies for their immediate response leading to the arrest of some suspects and the restoration of calm to the area.”
– The Nation
