By Gwamkat Gwamzhi
Residents of Jos city, the capital of Plateau State, north – central Nigeria, Saturday morning, woke up to tension, following the reported attack and killing of commuters in Rukuba road axis, in the northern part of the city.
Twenty-two persons were reportedly killed and Fourteen others injured in the Saturday’s skirmishes.
According reports by the State Command of the Police, youths had 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.
The police said, it acted swiftly, together with the Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), the Special Task Force in State, Following the distress call it received.
It adds that “The Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, 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.”
In a statement, the OPSH said, Troops immediately mobilized to the scene and restored normalcy.
As some persons including innocent commuters lost their lives in the unfortunate incident while others with varying degree of injuries were evacuated to a medical facility for care and their condition being closely monitored.
It informed that twelve suspects have so far been arrested in connection with the incident and troops are on the trail of others who took part in perpetrating the act with those arrested currently in custody for interrogation.
In a reaction, the State Governor, Simon Lalong, through his Director Press, Makut Simon Macham, 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.
Governor Lalong condemned the act and immediately directed security agencies to swiftly identify and arrest the perpetrators, while dominating the area to restore calm.
The Governor while commiserating with those affected, directed the Secretary to the Government of the State Prof. Danladi Abok Atu to visit the areas and ascertain the situation as well as ensure that those injured receive adequate medical attention.