Gunmen kill four, two injured in Plateau, Kogi• STF assures Plateau residents of peaceful Sallah • Stay at home today – Kogi monarch

Posted by admin Headlines, Kogi, Plateau, State News Saturday, August 18th, 2012

Four persons lost their lives in renewed violence in Plateau and Kogi states at the weekend despite efforts to restore peace to the trouble spots.
As both government and security agencies are trying to restore normalcy to the Northern part of Plateau State, three Fulani were killed on Friday while two others sustained injuries in Barakin-Ladi Local Government Area of the state by some unknown gunmen.

In a similar occurence, barely two weeks after the killing of inocent worshipers at Deeper Life Bible Church at Otite and killing of two soldiers at Okene by some gunmen, the town was turned into a battle field on Saturday as some gunmen opened fire on mobile policemen on patrol.

This is just as the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji (Dr.) Ado Ibrahim, has charged Muslim faithful in the town to stay at home to observe the prayer marking today’s Sallah cellebration.

According to a statement issued by the Media/Information Officer of the Special Task Force (STF) in charge of security in Plateau State,

Captain Salisu Mustapha, at about 5:00 p.m. on Friday, some unknown gunmen ambushed and attacked five Fulani who were on their way to Sho village in Barkin-Ladi Local Government.

The STF pointed out that armed men opened fire on them, killing one Yero Goma and Wada Usman on the spot, while Abdullahi Mukaka and Useni Ahmadu sustained gunshot wounds.

The fifth person, Saleh Shuaibu, escaped unhurt.

It further said that the injured were rushed by other members of STF to a clinic in Barakin-Ladi for treatment, while Mukaka, one of the injured, died while receiving treatment at the hospital on Saturday.

The task force, however, reassured the public of its commitment to ensuring hitch free Eid-el-Fitr celebration, adding that it would leave no stone unturned in fishing out perpetrators of the dastardly act.

It, therefore, warned that any citizen bent on fomenting trouble with the aim of truncating peace in the state had made himself an enemy of the state and would be treated as such.

In a related development, there was a bomb scare at Bukuru in Jos South Local Government Area of the state on Saturday, forcing people to scamper for safety.

The STF, in another statement, said at about 10:25 a.m., the command received a report of an abandoned black briefcase at DBZang/Gyel junction along Bukuru expressway, adding that on reaching the scene, its men cleared the place and invited the state Police Anti-Bomb Squad who explored the bag.

According to the statement, the bag was discovered not to contain explosives, but personal belongings of someone who is suspected to be a traveler.

The STF charged the people to continue to provide useful information to security agencies and assured them of confidentiality.

Over the incident in Kogi State, already, over four person have been arrested, while one of the gunmen who attacked the mobile policemen was gunned down by the policemen.

An eye witnessed account had it that the incident occurred at Idare, in 0kene when the mobile policemen stormed the hide out of the gunmen.
It was also gathered that rocket launcher, guns and bombs were recovered by the police during the battle.

The sources added that the battle, which lasted for three hours, created confusion as economic activities in Okene came to a stand still.

Sunday Tribune gathered that all shops shut down for business, while commercial motorcyclists fled the streets during the gun battle.

Kogi Police Commissioner, Mr. Muhammed Musa Katsina, who confirmed the story on Saturday said the gunmen were armed robbers.

He stressed that when his men stormed their hideout, they fire on them, but his men were able to confront the situation as one of the robbers was gunned down during the operation.

He also confirmed that they recovered one Baretta pistol from the suspect.

Meanwhile, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ibrahim, called on the people to stay at home today because of the security situation in the area.

The advice was contained in a communique issued by the Ebira Area Traditional Council and signed by Dr. Ibrahim after a meeting held at the palace of the Ohinoyi on Saturday.

The monarch enjoined Muslim worshippers to observe today’s Eid-el-Fitr congregational prayers in private places to pray for restoration of peace and tranquility in the area.

The communique further stressed the need for the worshippers to pray for the repose of the souls of innocent people that were murdered in cold blood in the area recently.

The communique disclosed that as part of efforts of monarchs in the area, seven people were apprehended in connection with the killings, while two guns were recovered in Okengwen in Okehi Local Government Area and handed over to the police.

Similarly, the council advised youths still in possession of firearms, including those of the slain soldiers, to surrender them without further delay.

It enjoined residents of the area to strictly adhere to the dusk to dawn curfew imposed as a result of recent developments, even as it advised them to report any suspicious movements to law enforcement agents.

The communique called on the security agents to restore normalcy and handle innocent citizens differently from criminals and trouble makers, while commending efforts of the state government and those of law enforcement agencies to bring the situation under control.

via Tribunewp_posts