Communal Violence Claims 18 Lives in Plateau State

More than 100 gunmen on Tuesday night invaded Kadunung village in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing 18 people and injuring others.

Suspected Fulani Herdsman Kill Soldier, 12 Others in Fresh Plateau Attack

No fewer than 13 people, including a soldier have been killed as some suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked Lwa, Dum, Rachit and Dyang villages in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State in the early hours of Friday. Two soldiers were also said to be missing in the attack.

Gunmen Invade Jeremiah Useni’s Home

Gunmen suspected to be hired assassins, in the early hours of Thursday, stormed the home of Jeremiah Useni, a former Abuja minister.
Mr. Useni was, however, not at his Langtang north Local Government Area, Plateau State home, when the gunmen came.

According to witnesses, the suspects shot at the building about 48 times.
Mr. Useni, a member of the on-going National Conference, in a telephone interview with journalists on Thursday evening, confirmed the incident.
The retired general said no lives were lost.
“I was not there myself, but I was told of the incident. No one was killed, but I will later today (Thursday) visit the scene to see things for myself,” he said.

The Police Public Relation Officer, PPRO, of the Plateau State command, Abuh Emmanuel, also confirmed the
incident to journalists in Jos.
According to Mr. Abuh, the alleged assassins were repelled by the police in the area.
“The suspects shot sporadically at the building, but no one was killed. Police have brought the situation under
control,” he said.

However, residents of the area said it was a group of vigilantes and youth who chased away the suspected assassins.
One of the witnesses, who identified himself as Nanpon, claimed to no longer be afraid of the sound of guns
shots, as it had become routine in the area.
He alleged that members of the Special Taskforce, STF, posted there often shot sporadically in the air for no just cause.
Mr. Nanpon also alleged that members of the STF harassed people in the area.
“Soldiers in our area sometimes enter our houses and beat up people even when no one has committed an offence. So when the attackers came, we thought it was soldiers doing their usual business of shooting in the air,” he said.

Premium Times

Kidnappers Abduct Briton in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria

The Special Task Force (STF) in-charge of internal security in Plateau State yesterday confirmed the abduction of a foreign national in the state by suspected kidnappers.

The abducted victim identified as a British national working with Rick Rock Construction company was declared missing in Langtang North Local Government Area of the state.

Media and Information Officer of the STF, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, who confirmed the unhealthy development, noted that the incident occurred on Saturday morning, stressing that the Task Force had commenced intensive search for the foreigner in the area. According to him, efforts are on top gear with other law enforcement agents to search the entire area so as to yield desired result.

Sunday Mirror gathered that the Nigerian Police Langtang Division and soldiers last night invaded the LGA at about 8pm in search of the missing victim but were yet to make locate his whereabouts as at the time of filling this report.

Meanwhile, the Berom community in the state yesterday expressed fresh concern over incessant attacks by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen in the state.

The gunmen, they said, are daily stationed in the mountains and rocks from where they launch attacks on identified Berom communities.

The National Caretaker Chairman of Berom Youth Movement (BYM), Mr. Rwang Dantong, in a statement issued in Jos yesterday, maintained that the aim of the attacks which he noted had led to the killing several people and destruction of property was aimed at forcefully ejecting the residents from their ancestral homes.

The statement alleged that the most worrisome aspect of the attacks was the involvement of security agents who connive with the attackers to unleash mayhem on the communities.

He listed some of the communities which had been taken over by the gunmen to include Rakok, Kubong, Dogo, Gyo, Pwa-Beduk, Rantis and Sharu in Barki Ladi Local Government Area of the state. Others, according to him, include Mase, Shong 2, Rakweng and Kampwas in Riyom LGA.

While expressing the helplessness of the people to confront the gunmen, the statement called on the Federal Government to intervene in the situation so as to prevent further loss of lives in the affected communities.

National Mirror

Football Viewing Centre In Jos (Plateau State) Narrowly Missed in Fresh Bombing

Barely five days after an explosion rocked the ever busy Jos Main Market and its environs, there has been another explosion.

The nature of the explosion is yet to be ascertained., however, the explosion reportedly hit Bauchi road area of the state.

According to NTA, the explosion occurred near a football viewing center and has been confirmed by a Police spokesperson, Felicia Anselm.

The explosion was reportedly set off by a suicide bomber. Premium Times reported that a resident said the suicide bomber died 20 metres from a viewing centre where football fans gathered to watch the ongoing final of the UEFA Champions League between Real Madrid and Athletico Madrid. That could not be independently verified at this time.

Other than the suicide bomber, no other casualty has been reported.

More details ...

Source:
Nigerian Bulletin

Hundreds Killed in Jos, Plateau State Multiple Explosion

There was a loud explosion in Jos, the Plateau State capital at about 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
The explosion, believed to have been caused by a bomb, occurred around the ever busy Jos Main Market, between Railway Terminus and the temporary site of the Jos University Teaching Hospital.
The explosion was followed by a thick smoke and is believed to have affected many shops and commercial vehicles. It is not known whether anyone was killed or injured.

The explosion has however created tension in the area with cars colliding as drivers scampered for safety.
Ambulance and other safety providers were seen rushing to the area.
The cause of the explosion and casualty is yet to be ascertained.

UPDATE:
Another explosion sounded at about 3:20 PM around the same area just as our reporter was filing report of the first explosion to his editors.
The Commander of the Special Task Force, STF, on Jos crisis, Major General Dave Enetie, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria but did not give casualty figure.

Source:
Leadership Newspaper