Jos, the Plateau State capital, was enveloped by fresh tension on Friday following the arrest of 26 suspected mercenaries, who were in a bus filled with arms and ammunition,
Our correspondent gathered that the suspected mercenaries were arrested in Jos, armed and dressed in army uniforms early on Friday by a joint security patrol team around the UTC junction. The suspects were allegedly travelling in a bus with the inscription, "Okene Local Government Legislative Council, Kogi State." Security sources said the inscription may have been used to hide the real aim of the suspects.
The suspected mercenaries, who were said to have various security identity cards, charms, guns and other dangerous weapons, were allegedly on their way from Kogi State to Bauchi State before their arrest. Also allegedly recovered from the suspects was a letter purportedly from the Bauchi State Government, requesting for the release of vehicles for their operation. The arrest, which came about two months after a bloody crisis arising from a local government election claimed hundreds of lives and property, caused fear in the state capital.
When contacted, the Director of Press Affairs, Government House, Jos, Mr. James Mannock, confirmed the arrest of the mercenaries. But he declined to make further comments, saying that it was a security matter that was being handled by the police.
Also on Friday, However, at a press conference in Jos on Friday, the youth wing of Jamatul-Nasril Islam said it was morally wrong for Governor Jonah Jang to set up a panel to probe the crisis. the The youth wing's Secretary, Mr. Ahmed S. Garba, who spoke, said, "Governor Jang has exhibited a high degree of partisanship, hatred and bias against the Hausa Muslims."
Garba alleged that the governor and his aides had consistently accused Muslims of starting the crisis, adding that the probe was only a diversionary tactic and an exercise in futility.
He said Muslims would not appear before the panel because the governor had "confirmed our belief of his involvement, but equally shown the world that he has more skeletons to hide in the cupboard than we had known."
According to him, the matter (the Jos crisis) was between the state government and the Hausa Fulani on the other. As such, they regarded the Federal Government as the only neutral arbiter. He called on the panel's Chairman, Prince Bola Ajibola, and other members of the commission of enquiry to reject the offer.