Plateau: Sallah celebration: 10 killed, many injured in Jos

Posted by admin Headlines, Plateau, State News Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

Sallah celebration by the Izala Muslim group on Monday turned soured as clash between the group and some youths led to the death of no fewer than 10 people while many were injured.
The Izala members, who had gathered at the Rukuba Road praying ground for the end of Ramadan fast, were held hostage for hours by the youths from the area who had insisted that they would not be allowed to pass through their area back to town.
A fight erupted between the two groups after efforts, which lasted for hours, by the security men to pacify the youths failed.

Daily Sun learnt that the fight was a fallout from the December 24, 2010 bomb blast in the area, during which at least 30 people died thus disrupting the Christmas celebration.
Some of the people who spoke to Daily Sun disclosed that due to the failure by the government to address the situation squarely at that time, the aggrieved youths had also vowed to make the sallah celebration unpalatable for the Muslims this time around.

Some of the residents confirmed that at least 10 people died in the clash but they could not say if more people died in the hospital.
Efforts by to confirm the death toll from security agencies failed as the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Jacob Apev, said he was in a meeting at the time Daily Sun called and would not be able to confirm anything until after the meeting.
Spokesman of the Special Task Force, Captain Charles Ekeocha, who declined to confirm number of those killed, told newsmen at the force headquarters in Jos, that members of the taskforce had been deployed to trouble zones, adding that security surveillance had been strengthened in the state.

However, Secretary of the Jamatul Nasri Islam, Ustaz Ahmed Muhammed told Daily Sun that a couple of people were killed, saying the association was still counting its causalities and would release the number later. “We have just buried some this afternoon,” he said.
Chairman of the youth in Kabong area, Mr. Yusuf Kadiya, also told journalist at the NUJ press centre in Jos that nine of its members were killed and several others sustained injuries when, according to him, soldiers opened fire on them.

From information gathered by Daily Sun, the crisis spread to Abattoir and Gada Biu area of Jos where more dead bodies were picked.
The clash paralyzed commercial and social activities in Jos throughout Monday, especially around Kabong, Gadabiu\Rukuba Road, Bukuru Park Round About, Bauchi Road, Nassarawa Gwom, part of Abattoir and Ahamdu Bello Way.
Reacting, Plateau State Commissioner for Information, Pastor Abraham Yeljab and the Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Pam Ayuba in a press briefing, described the incident as regrettable.
Yeljab said government had directed the commissioner of health to make available enough drugs to hospitals where victims of the crisis were been treated.
He confirmed that those injured were at the Evangel Hospital in Jos.
The information commissioner, who briefed journalists, called for calm, explaining that adequate security measures had been put in place.
He said government was meeting with top security chiefs in the state over the unfortunate incident.

-Sunwp_posts