Jos lockdown: 18 Killed, five injured, 4 vehicles burnt

THE city of Jos, capital of Plateau State was thrown in confusion and pandemonium on Friday following the killing of 14 people by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen while four others were killed in a reprisal attack.

Tribune Online learnt that the gunmen at about 9:00 pm on Thursday stormed Rukuba area of Jos North local government area of the state and began to shoot sporadically at random and in the process killed 14 people at ago while four other persons sustained fatal injuries.

A source close to the area disclosed that seven persons who were of the same family were among the victims of the unfortunate incident.

The identified family members include Blessing, Ruthy, Jonathan, Majesty and Mama Kogi.

The source further disclosed that the invasion which started at about 9:00 pm lasted till about 2:00 am without the presence of security agencies.

Tribune Online findings further revealed that aggrieved youths in the community trooped out en-mass in the early hour of Friday to protest the killings and in the process burnt down hi-lux vehicle belonging to the men of Operation Safe Haven and other three cars.

It further learnt that four other persons two of whom were tricycle operators ran into the aggrieved mob.

They were killed and their tricycles damages and set ablated.

ALSO READ: Wike vows to work against any candidate in support of moving PDP national convention From P/Harcourt

At about 9: 00 am, the unfortunate situation degenerated and snowballed into ethnic clashes and spread to the city centre as youths on both sides engaged themselves along Masalaci Jumat and OLA Hospital area before the intervention of the security men.

As a result of the incident commercial activities were grounded and parents rushed to schools to pick their wards. As at the time of filing this report the entire city centre is locked down completely while there is no human and vehicular moment.

When contacted the Media Officer of Operation Safe Haven in charge of security in the state Major Adam Umar confirmed the incident adding that the situation is under control but declined comment on the number of casualties.