•Police ban tricycle on New Year day
From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, still reeling from the gruesome Christmas Eve massacre, came under another attack on Saturday, when gunmen killed three people in Kwahaslalek community.
The recent attack came just as the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and the three service chiefs were on a visit to Plateau State to assess the situation. Accompanying the service chiefs and Matawalle was the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu.
No fewer than 195 people lost their lives in a series of coordinated attacks in three local government areas Barkin in Bokkos and Mangu between December 23 and 25. This time, the crisis spread to Jos East, where another three people were reportedly killed in Durbi village in the Shere District of the local government area of the state.
Terrorists had threatened to launch a fresh attack on some communities in the state during the New Year celebration and after, thus, causing apprehension in the state. This caused the Fulani community, through the Emir of Wase, Alhaji Muhammad Sambo and Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, to postpone their annual festivals.
Also, some churches in Jos and Bukuru Metropolis have also rescheduled their cross over services to avoid any untoward incident.
Daily Sun gathered that the gunmen, on Saturday, at about 10:40pm, attacked the Kwahaslalek community area and unleashed terror on the residents in an attack that lasted for more than 45 minutes. Five people were also said to have sustained fatal injuries and many property destroyed before the invaders escaped.
It was gathered that the victims were given mass burials at about 10:45am, yesterday, while those who sustained injuries were receiving treatment at the Mangu General Hospital. In the Durbi village, Daily Sun gathered that among them were a father and his son.
Transition Implementation Committee Chairman of the Council, Mr. Markus Nyam, who confirmed the incident, said efforts of the vigilantes in the area paid off when they succeeded in killing one of the assailants. He added that the prompt response of the joint security task force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), prevented the attackers from causing more mayhem.
However, the police, while confirming the Durbi attack, said the incident was not a spill over of the Mangu attack, but rather a case of attempted kidnapping and culpable homicide.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, said, “contrary to the news making the round on some news and social media platforms, that the attack which occurred at Durbi village of Jos East LGA is related to the recent attacks that took place in some Plateau LGAs, the Commissioner of Police, Plateau State, Okoro J. Alawari, wishes to clear the air that it is a case of attempted kidnapping and culpable homicide, not an attack on the entire community.
“At approximately 2130hrs, on 30/12/202, we received credible intelligence from a reliable source, regarding the unfortunate killing of a man, and his son, by unidentified hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers. On receipt of the information, the DPO of Angware division, Taru Pariku, immediately led a team of policemen to the crime scene.
“Further investigation, however, revealed that in the course of the incident, the victims struggled with the hoodlums, and while, in an attempt to flee from the advancing team of police operatives, the kidnappers shot at the victims. In the process, one of the hoodlums was also killed.
“Meanwhile, the police have banned the operation of tricycles, also known as “Keke NAPEP”, on 01/01/2024. The police also reminded the citizens that the ban on all commercial motorcycles, also known as “Okada”, is still in force in the state.