Three killed in fresh attack in Jos

THE Plateau State Police Commissioner, Mr. Abdulrahman Akano, has confirmed the death of three persons in a fresh attack by unknown armed men in Mararaban Forom, Barkin-Ladi Local Government.


Akano said in a statement on Thursday that the attack, carried out on local miners at about 12 midnight, left three people dead and many others injured.


The police commissioner said one of the deceased, Mr. Gyang Pam, was attacked and killed on his farm while watering his crops.


Akano, who added that no arrest had been made, explained that the police were on the trail of the perpetrators.


Meanwhile, less than two weeks after an attempt to bomb the regional headquarters of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles in Jos was aborted, an armed youth on Thursday stabbed a policeman, who was guarding the church premises.


The attack came at a time the operatives of the Special Task Force said they were ready for Saturday’s election.


Our correspondent gathered that the policeman sat on a bench in front of the church when the assailant launched a surprise attack on him, stabbing him in different parts of the body.


The victim was said to have hung his gun on the shoulders, awaiting the arrival of a colleague.


An eyewitness said that the cry of the policeman for assistance attracted some residents of the area, who rushed to his rescue just as the attacker fled the scene.


It was further gathered that while the policeman was trying to prevent the hoodlum from snatching the two guns, the attacker inflicted machete cuts on him.


“We heard shouts of ‘help, help’ and before we knew what was happening, the attacker had fled, leaving the policeman in the pool of his blood,” an eyewitness said. Akano, who confirmed the development, said the policeman was rushed to the University of Jos Teaching Hospital and was responding to treatment.


The Special Task Force has stated its preparedness for Saturday’s election.


STF Commander, Brig. Gen Hassan Umaru, told journalists in Jos on Thursday that movement would be restricted from the midnight on Friday to the midnight on Saturday and subsequent election days.


He said a security council meeting was held on Wednesday where adequate measures were mapped out to ensure that the election was free and devoid of any trouble.


Umaru said, “Security arrangements have been tightened in all local government areas, while movements have been restricted from 23.59pm on Friday to 23.59pm on every election day.


“We like to take this opportunity to reassure the people of Plateau that we shall do everything practically possible to ensure a free and fair election. We will also like to add that whatever inconveniences the people may experience as a result of the security arrangement we have put in place, would be insignificant to what would happen in the event of any breakdown of law and order.”


The commander said all vehicles coming into Jos would be thoroughly searched, warning against any attempt to circumvent security.


He added that the measures being put in place by the task force were without prejudice to the arrangements being made by the police.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110401228385