Police Confirms 5 Killed, 12 Houses Burnt In Plateau Protest

Five persons have been killed and 12 houses set ablaze after fresh violence erupted in Dutse Uku and Angwan Damisa communities following the death of Monday Enock in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Police Public Relations Officer DSP Tyopev Mathias Terna confirmed the death in a press statement in Jos on Monday.

Naija News had earlier reported huge tension in the state, following the death of a boy found in Dutse Uku, a border town between two communities on Sunday

According to Terna, a protest by youths from Dutse Uku and Angwan Damisa which escalated into killings began when the motionless body of one Monday Enock was discovered and later confirmed dead at Plateau Specialist Hospital.

His words: “On the 26/05/2019 at about 1130hrs, the Plateau State Police Command received a report from one Sarki Arum ‘m’ of Tina Area of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State that one Enock Monday’s’ of Tina was seen lying motionless at an area between Dutse Uku and Angwan Damisa in Jos North Local Government.

“The Command immediately mobilised to the area and removed the body to Plateau Specialist Hospital where he was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty and corpse deposited at the mortuary of the same hospital.
“Youth of the area started protesting when the news of Enock’s death filtered into the community.

“The Area Commander Jos Metro mobilised personnel of the divisions within his jurisdiction and moved with the Commanding Officer of 8PMF and the Divisional Police Officer of Nasarawa Gwong Division under whose jurisdiction the crime was committed to the scene of the crime.
“As a result of the protest, five (5) persons lost their lives and twelve (12) houses were burnt down.”

Terna said the situation has been brought under control with the efforts of the Area Commander Jos Metro, the Commander of Operation Safe Haven, the Commanding Officer 8PMF and the Divisional Police Officer Nasarawa Gwong Division.

He said the area is being patrolled and urged residents of the area to remain calm, saying efforts are on to track and arrest those who were involved in the criminal protest.

Daily Sun reports that calm has returned to the affected after the Sunday violence that led to the death of some people and destruction of properties.

It was observed that some women who came out for protest against the arrests of youths and the violence generally were arrested by the military along Executive Mansion by Tina Junction and were loaded in a military truck and taken to an unknown destination.

The women protesters were carrying leaves and wearing black clothes to expressed dissatisfaction over the unfortunate incident.