Youths in Riyom Local Government Area barricaded the Abuja-Jos highway yesterday and killed seven people travelling along the route, introducing a new dimension to the tit-for-tat violence in Plateau State where hundreds have been killed since January. Those killed yesterday were passengers travelling through Jos from other parts of the country, according survivors of the attack at Tahoss village, 30 kilometres south of Jos.
Surviving passengers said Christian youths from the Berom tribe barricaded the road as early as 9:00am, stopping vehicles and interrogating passengers to ascertain their religious affiliations or ethnic origins, after which those who were from rival tribes and religion were dragged out of the vehicles and beaten.
Our correspondents learnt that the attacks were a reprisal to avenge the killing of four people in the area by suspected Fulani marauders on Monday.
The youths mounted roadblocks since Monday night but were dispersed by the men of the special task force. They later regrouped yesterday morning.
Chairman of Riyom LGA Mr. Simon Markus confirmed to BBC Hausa yesterday that six people were killed in the incident. He said security officers had been drafted to the area, and that six corpses had been exhumed. He lamented that the people killed were mere passersby. “Those people killed have no idea of what was happening,” Markus said.
A police officer in the area who refused to be named because he was not authorised to speak said seven people were confirmed dead and several others were injured.
Security forces tried to send the youths off the road but they were initially overpowered because of their superior numerical strength. They later succeeded in opening the road and rescuing many passengers.
Our correspondent saw some of the victims brought to the state Criminal Investigation Department and later taken to Jos Central Mosque.
One of the victims with a deep cut on his head, Abdullahi Adamu, 23, said he was attacked while delivering a bus load of vegetables in a J5 bus with registration number SA 455 DAS.
“I was driving towards Akwanga (Nasarawa State) when I noticed a group of youths who were carrying machetes, cutlasses, catapults coming towards us. As soon as I noticed their unfriendly mood I started to reverse my bus, but it was too late, the engine of the bus died completely. But before they arrived where we were, I jumped out of the bus and also told the remaining two passengers to run,” he said.
IN ZAKA FADI, FADI GASKIYA, KOMAI TA JA MA A YI MAKA
Posted: at 21-04-2010 07:33 PM (15 years ago) | Hero
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