Jos Crisis: STF detains 30; 33 lives lost in two communities

From Ron Jacob, Jos
Not fewer than 30 persons are in detention out a total of 72 persons arrested in connection with the recent crisis that rocked Plateau State.
This is as about 33 lives were reportedly lost in two separate communities in Riyom and Bassa Local Government Areas. 19 were reportedly lost in Ariri of Bassa, while 14 was lost in Jol of Riyom.
The attacks are believed to be reprisal attacks for the death of two herders and four cows.
Meanwhile, Major General Augustine Agundu, Commander, Special Task Force (STF) disclosed this on Thursday while briefing newsmen in Jos on the crisis that engulfed the state leaving unspecified number of persons dead and many others injured.
The commander said that during the crisis, his officers and men were able to arrest a total of 72 persons, who were grilled to enable the task force know their level of involvement.
“On questioning the 72 persons, we discovered 42 of them having no case to answer and have been released.
“The remaining 30 persons, confessed to their level of involvement in the crisis, which prompted their detention for onward prosecution,’’ he said.
On the insinuations going round that fake soldiers were seen in some troubled areas killing innocent people, the commander vehemently denied it.
Agundu stated, “I want to assure the general public that there was no such incident on the Plateau during the crisis.’’
According to him, there could be some soldiers, who made some mistakes but not that fake soldiers were seen around the city.
He said that relative calm has returned to the state and appealed to the public to report all trouble makers to the constituted authorities for appropriate action.
Our correspondent reports that some places within the Jos Metropolis were still under  6.00pm – 6.00am curfew while some are under 10.00pm – 6.00am curfew.