Wednesday 31 August 2011

Jos: We warned Muslims against using the praying ground - CP •As death toll increases •Pastor, son, bank staff, others killed

AS the security agencies are battling to restore normalcy to thecity of Jos following theorgy of violence that gripped some parts of the state capital on Monday leading to the death of many
people, secret killings still pervaded the nooksand crannies of the city while more corpses were being uncovered.
In the early hours of Tuesday, some hoodlums alleged to be on the revenge mission stormed the Murtala Muhammed Way of the state capital and brutally killed one of thesecurity men at the sentry post of the Afribank, now Main Street Bank by stabbinghim to death while his three colleagues escaped.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that the hoodlums went on the rampage on the major street, inflicting injuries on people at random and also vandalised the premises of Fed Ex, a courier company, while other business premises along the popular road were not spared.
It was also gathered that a senior pastor with the Christ Apostolic Church, PastorG.C. Shawari, and his sonwere killed at their official residence on the premises of the church on Monday evening, when a group of youthsinvaded the house.
An eyewitness told Nigerian Tribune that the irate youth entered the premises through the back door, swoopedon the pastor and his son and macheted both of them to death while the wife narrowly escaped.
The Chief Medical Director of Jos University Teaching Hospital, Dr Ishaya Pam, told newsmen that 13 corpses of those that died on Monday were transferred to JUTH mortuary on Tuesday.
According to him, one ofthe 18 victims on transfer to JUTH died on the way, adding that98 per cent of those on admission suffered gunshot wounds.
However, Plateau StatePolice Commissioner, Mr Emmanuel Ayeni, has stated that the Muslim youth were warned against using the prayerground on Rukuba road for their Sallah prayers.
Speaking with newsmen, he said despite several appeals,the youth said it was the ground or nowhere, adding that the police had made adequate arrangements for security during the Sallah celebrations, but the group, Ja’amatu Izallatu Jibi’a Wa Ikamatu Sunna (JIBWIS), had insisted that their own Sallah prayers would be held a day ahead of others and it would be at the Rukuba road prayer ground.
“Maybe there was an animosity between the youth that metamorphosed into what we witnessed today [Monday], but we had made comprehensive arrangements for todayand tomorrow [Tuesday and Wednesday] but suddenly the Izalla group emerged and saidthey would observe their own Sallah on Monday morning.(Nigerian Tribune)

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