Another 13 killed, 12 injured in Plateau

Reeling from the killings of a pastor, his wife, three children and three others in Barakin-Ladi local government area of Plateau State last week, another 13 people were killed by gunmen on Sunday in Jos South council area.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the gunmen who were in two Hilux vans on Sunday swopped on a group of people relaxing in front of the hotel at Lopandet Dwei Du Area of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

It was learnt that the gunmen opened fire on the people at a close range and killed eight of them instantly while others escaped with severe injuries and also shot at people within the vicinity at random as they were trying to escape and in the process killed another five.

An eyewitness, Emmanuel Ibrahim, said before men of the Operation Safe Haven in charge of security in Plateau could get to the scene of the incident, the gunmen had bolted away adding that the incident caused a serious pandemonium in the area as residents remained indoors until the early hour of Monday.

The State Police Command in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Mathias Tyopev Terna, confirmed the incident adding that 11 people died in the attacked while 12 others sustained injuries.

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It pointed out that at about 9:00 pm on Sunday, the Plateau State Police Command, Jos received a distress call to the effect that unknown gunmen attacked Lopandet Dwei Du Area of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

“The Command immediately mobilised to the scene of the crime. On arrival, we discovered that some people were shot. The victims were immediately rushed to Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and Plateau Specialist Hospital.”

According to the Command, 11 persons were confirmed dead by doctors from both hospitals while 12 persons were wounded and now on admission receiving treatment adding that more security personnel have been deployed to the area to prevent further attacks on the Community.

Meanwhile, irate youths who trooped out in their large number on Monday morning to protest the killings attacked journalists alleging that the early report on the incident by a local media was biased but some enlightened people in the area later intervened and aided the escape of the newsmen out of the vicinity.