Abuja: The recent killings in Northern Nigerian City of Jos claimed lives of at least 10 people that were killed in overnight attacks, for parking protest that took to the roads in the area.
The simultaneous killings that occurred late Monday night were carried out in Heipang and Korut villages of Barkin Ladi local government area of the African country`s state of Plateau.
"Four military identity cards and a military cap was found at the scene of the attack," Emmanuel Lomang, Chairman of Barkin Ladi local government council said.
He further narrated the incident saying the attackers began to shoot at about 12:30 am to scare the people, and later attacked a house at Heipang, where they supposedly killed seven members of the family of one Nnaji with matchetes.
One Margaret Deme, whose husband, Deme was shot and killed in her presence said those, who killed her husband wore black attires and were escorted by soldiers.
"When they knocked on our door, my husband, who was in the village for the weekend opened the door and was subsequently shot and killed leaving me with five children to cater for."
She added.
The assailants then proceeded to the house next door, where they further killed two brothers, Samuel and Adamu Gwom, she continued. But the spokesman of the Military Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis, Captain Charles Ekeocha, confirmed the attack, saying, "My troops went to the area to repel the attack. In the process, the vigilantes in the area opened fire on our troops."
"In retaliation one of the vigilantes with AK47 riffle and 30rds of 7.62mm (special) was shot. He later died on the way to the hospital and his remains have been deposited in a mortuary at Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH)," Ekeocha added.
Several people have died in internecine crises that involved ethnic Fulanis and Beroms in Jos and its environs. Sometimes these clashes take religious colouration as Christians attack Muslims or vice versa. Majority of the Fulanis are Muslims while the Beroms are mostly Christians.
PTI
