At least 10 persons were yesterday killed and several others injured in Jos, the Plateau State capital following a fresh violence that erupted between Muslim and Christian faithful.
The violence is coming less than a forth night a clash between adherents of the two religions resulted to the death of several people.
Yesterday the city went up in flame, especially around Jankwano, Maternity, Gada Biu, Old Bukuru park, Kabong and Rukuba road all in Jos north local government council of the state. Tick smoke enveloped the entire area. Banks and owners of other commercial enterprise hastily wound down their business for fear of looting by hoodlums.
Daily Champion gathered from eyewitnesses that trouble started when Muslim faithful of the Izala sect in their numbers were trooping to the prayer ground along Rukuba road Jos, to celebrate the Eid el-fitri Sallah and were allegedly challenged by the Christains who accused them of spoiling their Christmas last year by bombing their homes.
Some youths suspected to be Christians allegedly mounted road blocks on some roads including Rukba road where the Muslim faithful (Izala sect) were holding procession. The development, the eyewitness claimed was immediately resisted by Moslems who immediately pulled out knives and attacked the youths.
Those who had left for the prayer ground before the trouble started, it was alleged were trapped in the process as they could not come out.
When the situation was getting out of hand, sporadic gun shots were heard as members of the special military task force on Jos crisis code name operation save heaven took charge and scared the rampaging youths away but the youths resisted that move and even charged at the soldiers.
This left about five dead . It took the combine efforts of members of the STF, members of the state security outfit code name operation rainbow to rescue those trapped at the prayer ground with armoured vehicle as they hurriedly escorted them to safety.
Chairman of medical advisory committee of Bingham university teaching hospital Jankwano Mr. Stephen Lass told our Correspondent that three dead bodies were brought to the hospital while over fifty people sustained various degrees of injuries and are being attended to by the hospital.
According to him the chief medical director of the hospital is in the theatre supervising operation of patients who sustained gun wounds during the conflict.
Diverse allegations are flying around from different quarters. For instance a man who resides at unity line Jenta Apata Darlinton Iro told reporters that he saw military men shot four people in the area lamenting that it is sad soldiers whose duty was to protect innocent lives were now hurting them instead.
In the same vein, the Rukuba community said through their leader Yusuf Kadiya said that the Muslims Izala faithful attacked and killed nine of their youths on their way from prayer ground without provocation.
The Plateau State government through the state commissioner of information Mr. Abraham Yiljap at a press conference over the development said the government was worried about the skirmishes that took place in Kabong, Rukuba road and Farin Gada describing the situation as a great set back to the peace being enjoyed in the state.
According to him, security operatives have since been mobilized to move into the area with a view to bringing the situation under control . He advised the people of the state irrespective of tribe and religion should go about their normal activities warning that the state government would no longer tolerate any act that will breach the peace being enjoyed in the state.
He pointed out that government has already directed the state ministry of health to supply the hospital treating injured persons even as he pledged that drugs and medical materials were there for the victims.