…. CAN Confirms 40 Dead
From Yakubu Busari ,Jos
The Plateau State government has re-Imposes a 24-hour curfew on Jos North Local Government in following growing tensions arising from the attack on Yelwa Zangam village of the local government where people were killed and properties destroyed.
According to Governor Simon Lalong, the 24 hour will come into force from 4pm, today, Wednesday 25th August 2021 until further notice. Yelwan Zangwam Community of Jos North local government Area of Plateau state yesterday. Tuesday 24 August 2021 came under attack by suspected gunmen, leaving 30 persons dead.
He said; “The proactive decision became necessary following eminent threat to lives and properties within the Local Government Area and the need to forestall the breakdown of law and order. It will also enable security agencies deploy appropriately to maintain security as the search for the attackers of the villagers continues.
The governor appealed to the citizens of Jos North to cooperate with the government by abiding to the 24-hour curfew as security agencies have been mandated to ensure that those who violate the curfew are arrested.
“Also, the 6pm to 6am curfew in Jos South and Bassa LGAs still remains in place until further notice. Only people on essential duties such as health personnel, journalists, fire service and para-military and others, are to be exempted from the curfew but should carry means of identification with them at all times.
Vexed youths on Wednesday carried corpses to the gate of Government House on Wednesday, blaming the government for the continued killing through treatment of killers softly. The aggrieved youths also locked up the House of Assembly.
He again sympathised with the victims and appealed to warring parties to allow the government to handle the matter so that hoodlums would not continue to take advantage of the unfortunate situation to cause mayhem and destruction in the state.
The Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria ,(CAN) Plateau State chapter Rev. Fr. Polycarp Gana disclosed fresh attacks with over 40 of its people left dead. Seventeen of the dead, he said, were burned beyond recognition while a number of corpses litter the hospital mortuary with 4 houses burned down.
The Coordinator of the organisation in Jos North, Rev. Ezekiel Dazi Nyam, Secretary said “we woke up this morning, Wednesday, to yet another criminal act of bloodletting. This ungodly incident comes on the heels of some promises and threats issued by some Islamic clerics over the media to revenge on innocent Christians over the Rukuba Road killings of 14/08/2021.”
“We demand from government to know clearly, if Christians are second class citizens or if being Christian and preaching peace and togetherness is a crime? No one has a monopoly of hard and inciting words but for the peace we wish with our neighbours.
“We call on the government to extend the visits it has initiated and to similarly compensate families who are badly affected to ease their suffering just as they did for the affected victims of 14/08/2021.
“We appeal that community surveillance be beefed up for our communities and for their proper training in order to keep the rule of engagement.
“We sympathize with the security men who have lost their lives on active duty as a result of this serious bridge in our security and appeal to government to be more proactive and sincere to the citizens.
Meanwhile Major Ishaku Gaji Takwa Military Information Officer told journalists in Jos that the attackers came in the night and started burning houses while shooting of unsuspecting members of the community.
He said the gunmen also destroyed houses and the bridge linking the town to the community making access to the area difficult for security agencies.
“Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN mobilised to save the community were slowed down by the destruction of the bridge by the marauders.”, he said, adding that, “Troops eventually got to the scene of the attack by navigating through other villages and met some houses already burnt and casualties recorded. Troops are on pursuit in the direction the killers fled.
He added that the Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN Maj Gen IS Ali. is already at the scene to assess the situation.
