Updated: 22 killed, 14 injured as gunmen attack travellers in Jos

At least 22 corpses have been recovered from a spot where gunmen attacked travellers on Saturday in Jos, Plateau State capital.

Gunmen Saturday morning had opened fire on the travellers who were returning from a religious event in neighbouring Bauchi State.

A witness said a convoy of five vehicles was attacked along Gada-Biyu road in the Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Plateau State Police command has confirmed 22 persons were killed and 14 injured in the attack.

Police Public Relations Officer in Plateau, ASP Ubah Gabriel Ogaba, gave the casualty figures in a statement made available to newsmen in Jos on Saturday.

The victims were reportedly heading back to the South West after attending an event on the Islamic New Year at Sheik Dahiru Usman Bauchi Mosque in Bauchi State.

Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has condemned the incident, warning troublemakers to desist.

He said his administration would not allow any form of lawlessness to disrupt the peace being enjoyed in the State.

He directed security agencies to identify the perpetrators as well as restore calm. To the area.
Even as he commiserated with the families of those affected, the governor assured all law-abiding citizens that security had been beefed up around the area as well as the entire metropolis to forestall further breach of the peace.
He urged the citizens to remain vigilant and be security conscious in reporting suspicious persons and behaviour within their domains to enable law enforcement agencies to respond appropriately.

The police spokeman said, “On the 14/08/2021 at about 0928hrs, the Plateau State Police Command received a distress call that a group of attackers along Rukuba Road of Jos North LGA attacked a convoy of five buses with Muslim faithful who were coming back from the Annual Zikr prayer in Bauchi State and heading to Ikare in Ondo State.”

He added that 22 persons were killed and 14;injured in the attack.

“Upon receipt of the report, a team of Police personnel, the military and other sister agencies were immediately mobilised to the scene where Seven victims were rescued and six suspects arrested,” he said.

The Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, CP Edward Egbuka, along with the GOC 3-Division, Major General Ibrahim Ali, also visited the scene and ordered an investigation into the incident in order to fish out other perpetrators of this barbaric act at large.

He added that normalcy has returned to the area.

The CP warned that those that perpetrated this dastardly act and others that incited it would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

The command urged the public to remain calm and to furnish the police with useful information to aid their investigation.