The Plateau Government has re-imposed the 24-hour curfew on Jos North Local Government Area, following growing tensions arising from fresh attacks in Yelwa Zangam community that claimed 35 lives, amid calls by youths in the area that government should name the ethnic stock of the killers just as it did when 23 Fulani travellers were killed two weeks ago.
The 35 persons reportedly killed by Fulani militants were in Yelwa Zangam community, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The dead included a family that were burnt alive in their home.
The armed bandits attacked the community in the early hours of Wednesday after disabling the bridge leading to the community to prevent access to help.
Meanwhile, the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Yelwa Zangam community was attacked by gunmen on Tuesday night, where people were killed and property destroyed.
Governor Simon Lalong in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham, on Wednesday in Jos, said the 24-hour curfew would take effect from 4 p.m. on Aug. 25 until further notice.
He said the proactive decision became necessary following imminent threat to life and property within the Local Government Area and the need to forestall the breakdown of law and order.
Lalong said the decision was also to enable security agencies to appropriately control the situation, as the search for the attackers of the villagers continued.
He appealed to the residents of Jos North to cooperate with the Government by complying with the 24-hour curfew, as defaulters would be arrested.
The governor said that the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew on Jos South and Bassa local government areas remained in force, until further notice saying, only people on essential duties were exempted from the curfew.
He called for calm, saying he is seriously grieved by the attacks.
He sympathised with the victims of the attacks, while appealing to them to show restraint and allow Government to handle the matter.
Lalong said the action was also to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the unfortunate situation to cause mayhem and destruction in the state.
NAN recalls that the State Government had on August 15 imposed a 24-hour curfew on the Jos North Local Government Area, following the killing of at least 22 travelers passing through the area by hoodlums, but relaxed it to 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on August 18.
▪︎ Additional report by NAN
