PLATEAU: Eight killed in Jos South

By Shaibu Mohammed, Jos

ON Sunday, May 23, 2021 at about 8pm, eight people were killed in Dong Village of Jos South Local Government Area by people suspected by the villagers to be herdsmen.

The villagers were already relaxing since it was Sunday. But the armed men came all of a sudden to attack them with guns and machetes, while other people scampered for their dear lives.

Eight lives were said to have been lost by eyewitnesses, but the Plateau State Police Command confirmed seven in the incident.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Ubah Gabriel Ogaba, “The Command received a distress call that yet to be identified gunmen came out suddenly from a nearby bush, invaded Dong Village, Jos South LGA and killed seven persons. 

 “A combined team of Policemen, Special Task Force known as Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), Vigilante operatives led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Operation, raced swiftly to the scene but the hoodlums had already fled back into the bush.” 

Ogaba said that investigation was ongoing. “Frantic effort is on to arrest the fleeing suspects. Meanwhile Security has been beefed up in that area to prevent escalation of violence.”

 Reacting to the incident, the Plateau State Government says it is deeply saddened by the recurrence of violence in parts of  Dong Kasa in Jos North Local Government Area and Kwi in Riyom on Sunday night where innocent citizens including children and women were murdered in cold blood. 

 State Commissioner of Information and Communication, Dan Manjang in a statement yesterday, described the act as barbaric, callous and a desperate attempt to rupture the peace and security of the State. 

 While commiserating with families that lost loved ones and valuables in the two separate attacks, Manjang said Governor Simon Lalong is deeply distressed by the incident and has vowed to ensure that the cherished values of peace and security and the sanctity of lives remains sacrosanct in the State. 

 Manjang, therefore, assured that the administration would continue to take measures and work hand in hand with security agencies for the protection of lives and property of citizens.

 He said as soon as the Government was alerted about the attack, it quickly reached out to security agencies who responded immediately and have been in pursuit of the attackers with a view to apprehending them and bringing them to justice. 

 The commissioner reiterated that the capacity of the security agencies for rapid response and intervention will be boosted once the approved 50 patrol vehicles and 200 security motorcycles are supplied. 

Manjang assured the citizens that the Rescue Administration through the Plateau Peace Building Agency, State Inter Religious Council and other non-State actors will continue to strengthen the peace and cohesion of people of the state while criminals are fished out and dealt with according to the law. 

 He also encouraged citizens to continue to provide useful information that will lead to the prevention of crime and arrest of criminals, assuring that the government is resolved not to allow anyone or group to return the state to the dark days of sorrow, tears and blood.