The Plateau State capital if Jos was yesterday slammed with a dusk to dawn curfew which was also extended neibouring Bukuru Metropolis.
The anniuncemet made by the. Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, followed reports of clashes in the city as news spread that northerners were being attacked in the south east.
The Director of Press and Public Affairs to the governor, Samuel Emmanuel Nanle, said in a statement that the governor also directed the deployment of security personnel to all flash points within the metropolis to ensure compliance with the curfew and to avert any further breach of law and order.
The statement said Lalong appealed to religious and community leaders, neighbourhood vigilantes as well as all law abiding citizens to ensure nobody is allowed to take advantage of the situation to engage in criminality.
The governor restated that Plateau State remains home to all Nigerians irrespective of religion, ethnic extraction or political persuasion and enjoined all peace loving citizens to ensure that nothing is allowed to upset the hard earned peace in the State.
Daily Trust gathered that pictures and videos were circulated through WhatsApp said to be of northerners from Jos City living and working in the South East.
The incident was immediately brought under control by men of Operation Safe Haven stationed in the market. However, many had fled the market area towards terminus for fear that the situation may escalate.
“A few minutes after 5pm, we saw people running towards the terminus area and before we knew it, people started shouting, that they must avenge the deaths of their relatives in the east, when I left the area, I saw one corpse lying on the street,” said Ado Musa who was at the market.
Most Igbo traders did not open shop yesterday for fear of attack while those who did so closed around 4pm, Daily Trust gathered.
Musa, a journalist, said “the attacks were carried out by irate youths and it was obvious they were intoxicated. They had been speaking in slangs all afternoon, I heard them asking; is it time? Most of us didn’t understand what they meant until it started.”
As at 5:26pm, our correspondent observed men of Operation Safe Haven shooting in the air to disperse youths who had gathered around Dilimi, behind terminus.
By 7pm, youths also set ablaze a black Jeep and truck containing alcohol in front of University of Jos along Farin Gada road.
The vehicles had slowed down due to road bumps which made it easier for the youths to attack the drivers who escaped unhurt.
Operation Safe Haven Media and Information Officer, Captain Adam Umar said, “Right ow there is tension but as soon as the tension subsides we will get details.”
‘Kanu’s home attacked’
Reports last night said troops broke into the home of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The Army would not comment on the matter.
The report came as events unfolded ominously rapidly in the state and in other parts of the country.
A family source told our correspondent on phone that, “our house is under attack and you can hear the gunshots by the army in the background”.
It is not clear if Kanu was in the compound when the shooting began.
However, his father, the traditional ruler of Afaraukwu autonomous community, Eze Israel Kanu as well as his mother, siblings and other family members were believed to be indoors.
As at the time of filing this report, residents were seen running for dear lives.
