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Tag: Jos

  • Jos cold bites harder amid COVID-19 fears

    Jos cold bites harder amid COVID-19 fears

    The cold weather in Plateau has become more intense, causing discomfort and fears among residents amid COVID-19 and other related illnesses, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Such cold weather has compelled residents to improvise measures to keep warm and evade cold causing illnesses.

    NAN checks indicated that the climate in the state capital, Jos, has been hovering between 26 degree Celsius by day and as cold as 10 degrees Celsius at night.

    Meanwhile, some residents in the state were worried because the cold was coming at a time the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 is spreading across the world.

    According to the residents, the cold has caused worries over infections from the disease and making night social life almost non-existent in the state.

    A resident, Mr Yemi Jimoh, a retired teacher, said, “I actually thought that the cold in Jos was going to be mild because the cold in December lasted a few days, only for it to resurface fiercely in January.

    “I am an old man, so, it is coming back amidst the COVID-19 Omicron variant, is worrisome.

    “I now have to remain indoors as much as possible and protect myself when I have to go out”.

    Mrs Rifkatu Dung, a trader at the Farin Gada Market, said that the cold had affected her business as she resumed sales later than before.

    “This cold is too much for someone to bear. I used to come to the market as early as 9 a.m., but I now come at almost 11 a.m. because of the cold weather.

    “It is now hard to wake up and start the day because I just want to stay in bed until it gets warmer. I am still nursing the cold I contracted a few days ago.

    “It is not easy on us that stay in the open to sell,” she stated.

    A relaxation spot owner, Mr Kingsley Ozomenam, described the weather as too cold and unexpected after the short one experienced during the Christmas.

    “This cold is too much; we were happy that the cold disappeared some days after Christmas and felt relieved that our customers would want to stay out a bit more.

    “Suddenly it has returned, and we now have a few customers patronising us because they don’t want to sit out in the cold for too long.

    “I have just returned from the eastern part of the country which is very warm. The climate here can only be compared to what we hear about Europe and other parts of the world,” he said.

    A Teacher, Mrs Mary Itse, said: “Jos is usually cold this season especially December through January. It is expected, but one can never get used to the cold.

    “It was mild in December but it has significantly worsened a few days ago, leading to several pupils missing school because of it.

    “Some parents called in to say their wards either had a cough or catarrh and some didn’t call at all”.

    Dr Nyam Azi of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) advised residents to keep warm and observe protocols that mitigates the COVID-19 infection and other related illnesses.

    According to the medical doctor, the weather could pose respiratory tract infections, as the cold serves as an optimal temperature for replication of respiratory tract viruses.

    He said that people with osteo athritis may also experience the exacerbation of symptoms.

    The medical practitioner said that these were times where the outbreak of Lassa Fever and COVID-19 outbreak were common.

    He urged residents to avoid stored food from contamination of rat faeces and eating leftover food that were not properly covered.

    Azi advised residents to protect themselves by keeping their environment warm, wear protective or full body clothing, wear face masks and maintain social distancing to protect themselves against the cold and infections.

  • Military kill 3 kidnappers in Jos

    Military kill 3 kidnappers in Jos

    Troops of the Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), have neutralised three notorious kidnappers in Jos.

    Maj. Ishaku Takwa, Media Officer of the task force, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Jos.

    According to Takwa, the criminal gang, which has been on the watchlist of the military, is believed to be behind all the recent kidnapping activities within Jos and environs.

    He explained that the gang, suspected to also be behind the attack on the Jos custodial centre, was neutralised around Gyero, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau.

    “Troops of OPSH, acting on credible intelligence, have neutralised a notorious gang of kidnap syndicate on the plateau.

    “The syndicate has been on the watchlist of OPSH and believed to have masterminded the recent kidnapping incidences in the state, and participated in the recent jail break at the Jos custodial centre.

    “The syndicate met its waterloo when our troops tracked the members to Gyero general area, where they usually meet plan how to carry out their nefarious activities.

    “The kidnappers, on sighting the troops, opened fire; our troops responded with superior fire power resulting in the neutralisation of three members of the notorious gang,” Takwa explained.

    The media officer said items recovered from the syndicate included; one AK-47 Rifle, two AK-47 rifle magazines, 101 live rounds of 7. 62mm ammunition and one tricycle.

    He further listed other items to include; one itel and one techno phones, two sharp knives and two military head warmers.

  • Confusion in Jos as corpse of another female ritual victim uncovered

    Confusion in Jos as corpse of another female ritual victim uncovered

    Barely five days after University of Jos student was uncovered with eyes gouged, a resident of Congo Russia, in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, has been found dead.

    The corpse of the victim identified as Plangnan Solomon was dumped around the popular Plateau Radio Television Corporation (PRTV), in Rayfield area of Jos south LGA of the State.

    She was found dead in the said area with her eyes and other parts of her body removed.

    Victor Kwara, a community leader at Congo Russia, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust on Friday, adding that she had been buried.

    The incident happened a day after the Plateau State Police Command through its spokesman, ASP Ubah Geberiel, confirmed the murder of a woman in Domus Pacis Guest house, along Zaria Road of Jos North LGA of the State.

    The killing of the two women had thrown many residents of Jos North and Jos South into confusion with some alleging that ritualists have trooped into the state.

    The community leader however called on residents of the state especially women to be watchful and be careful of those they associate with.

  • Footballer sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for stealing

    Footballer sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for stealing

    An upper Area Court, sitting in Kasuwan Nama, Jos, on Tuesday sentenced a 22-year-old footballer, Chimezie Friday, to two years imprisonment for conspiracy, trespass and stealing.

    A panel of two magistrates, Ghazali Adam and Hyacinth Dolnaan, who sentenced Friday after he pleaded guilty to the offences, however, gave him an option of N80, 000 fine.

    The magistrates said that the judgment would serve as a deterrent to those who would want to indulge in such criminal acts.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Ibrahim Gokwat, told the court that the case was reported on Sept. 24, at the Laranto Police Station by one Christopher Daniel, the complainant.

    Gokwat said that the convict conspired with one Joseph, surname unknown and now at large, and stole car parts worth N225, 000 from the complainant motor garage.

    The prosecutor said that the offences were punishable under sections 58, 327 and 271 of the Plateau State Penal Code.

  • 10 dead, 252 inmates at large in aftermath of Jos prison break

    10 dead, 252 inmates at large in aftermath of Jos prison break

    The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has said that one of its Personnel and nine inmates serving their jail terms were killed when gunmen attacked the Jos Correctional Centre on Sunday.

    Mr Francis Enobore, the National Public Relations Officer of the service, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Jos.

    The gunmen attacked the facility on Sunday evening, and according to Enobore, 262 inmates also escaped from the facility during the incident, adding that 10 of them were later arrested.

    He explained that one of the attackers was neutralised during exchange of fire between the armed squad of the service and the gunmen.

    He also said that one of the personnel of the service and six inmates were severely injured during the attack.

    “One of the gunmen trapped within the Medium Security Custodial Center, Jos after invading the facility has been identified as one of those killed in the gun duel.

    “Sadly, one of our armed squad personnel paid the supreme price in the encounter, while nine inmates also lost their lives.

    “Another staff of the Service was shot in the hand and six inmates were also injured in the attack.

    “Meanwhile, some of the attackers and a total of 262 inmates escaped in the melee before reinforcement could come from sister services.

    “However, 10 have so far been recaptured leaving 252 at large,”he said.

    The national PRO said that the Controller-General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa had condoled with the family and friends of the gallant officer who paid the ultimate price in the encounter and promised that his death would not be in vain

    Nababa promised to go after all the perpetrators and be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    He thanked the officers and men of other security agencies for the support in bringing the situation under control and assured members of the public that the safety of inmates including their care and support, would continue to be the top priority of his administration.

    He called for collaboration from Nigerians to apprehend the fleeing inmates by volunteering credible intelligence that could nip such ugly incidents in the bud.

    The Jos Medium Security Custodial Centre as at the time of the attack had 1,060 inmates comprising 560 pre-trial detainees and 500 convicts.

  • Jos prison attack: Police arrest 8 fleeing inmates

    Jos prison attack: Police arrest 8 fleeing inmates

    The Police Command in Plateau says it has arrested eight of the inmates who had earlier escaped during the attack on the Jos Correctional centre by gunmen.

    ASP Ubah Ogaba, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Jos.

    Gunmen on Sunday evening invaded the prison yard and some of the inmates escaped from the facility.

    Ogaba said that of the eight fleeing inmates, seven were rearrested by the police while one voluntarily surrendered himself.

    “Yesterday, at about 5:20 p.m., the medium-security custodial centre in Jos came under attack by yet-to-be identified gunmen.

    “Immediately we received the report, the Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Bartholomew Onyeka, who led reinforcement to the scene, directed that the entire centre be cordoned.

    “The CP also ordered immediate stop and search and seven inmates who escaped were re-arrested by the Police and are in Custody.

    “One of them voluntarily surrendered himself to the Police,” Ogaba said.

    The PPRO said that Policemen and other security personnel are currently on the ground to effectively deprive the hoodlums of the space they desire to perpetrate their evil acts.

    Ogaba promised to make details available as the search for the other escaped inmates continues.

  • BREAKING: Gunmen trapped inside Jos prison after attacking custodial centre

    BREAKING: Gunmen trapped inside Jos prison after attacking custodial centre

    Jos prison, the Medium Security Custodial Centre in the capital of Plateau State came under attack by gunmen who reportedly stormed the facility in large numbers with sophisticated weapons.

    The invaders were said to have arrived at the Custodial Center at about 17:20hrs on Sunday and immediately made for the main gate where they engaged the armed squad personnel in a gun battle before breaking into the yard.

    Although they gained entrance to the yard, they are however trapped within as men from sister security services were immediately mobilised to assist the armed guards to cordon the perimeter wall and the entire area.

    According to a statement by Francis Enobore, Controller of Corrections PRO for the Controller-General of Corrections, reinforcements from the response squad of the Service have also been mobilised to the centre.

    “The situation is presently under control as the attackers firing power is being subdued by superior fire from a combined team of security agencies. Update will be made available as events unfold,” the statement reads.

  • LG polls: Ex-lawmaker laments voter apathy in Jos North LGA

    LG polls: Ex-lawmaker laments voter apathy in Jos North LGA

    A former member of the House of Representatives that represented Jos North/Bassa constituency, Suleiman Kwande, has lamented low turnout of voters in Saturday’s Local Government election in the state.

    Kwande,who stated this while casting his vote at the Hill Station polling unit, however, described the election as peaceful.

    He urged the citizens to always come out and vote during elections to enable them to elect leaders of their choice.

    He also urged the people to remain peaceful during and after the polls.

    The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the election was characterised by voter apathy in most parts of Jos North Local Government Area as most people stayed away from the polling units.

    In some polling units in Hill Station Junction, Farin Gada, Jenta Adamu, Apata, Tudun Wada and Hwolshe, few or no voters were seen,as at the time our correspondent visited the areas.

    Some of the voter registers had recorded one vote cast, others had 3 while some did not record any vote at all,as at the time of the visit.

    Similarly, there was poor turnout in some units such as Busabuji, Laranto, St Murumba and a host of others.

    Miss Helen Amos, a resident of Hill Station, blamed the poor turnout on the alleged non inclusion of other political parties in the election.

    “I don’t see why people would go out to vote when it is only one party that is participating and clearly almost everyone has rejected the candidates.

    “We feel disenfranchised by the non inclusion of the party of our choice, this is not the kind of democracy we want,” Amos said.

    NAN,however, reports that there was turnout of voters in some parts of Kwararafa, Konan Soja, Sabon Layi and other areas.

    Mrs Grace Vandapuye, a councilorship candidate in Jos North, expressed joy that the election was taking place for the first time in the area.

    Vandapuye urged elected leaders in the area to ensure that they served the people diligently and with fear of God.

  • Plateau crisis: Lalong relaxes curfew in Jos, Bassa

    Plateau crisis: Lalong relaxes curfew in Jos, Bassa

    Governor of Plateau State Simon Lalong has relaxed curfews imposed on parts of the state due to insecurity.

    The Governor, in a broadcast on Monday, said the 24-hour curfew in Jos North is now to be enforced from 6pm to 6am until further notice.

    “The curfew in Jos South and Bassa is to also be further relaxed,” Lalong said.

    “As from Monday 30th August 2021, the curfew shall be enforced between 10pm to 6am until further notice.”

    The Governor noted that the ban on tricycles (Keke Napep) and hawkers remains in place within Jos/Bukuru metropolis.

    Also, he announced that the Plateau Economic and Investment Summit earlier scheduled for September 1 and 2 has been postponed.

    “A new date will be announced and communicated to all our invitees,” the Governor said. “We apologise for any inconveniences this postponement might cause.”

    Recent attacks in Jos North, Bassa, Riyom, and Barkin Ladi have plunged Plateau into a state of high tension.

    About 36 people were killed last week in Yelwa Zangam village, Zangam District in Jos North Local Government Area.

    Many state governments have transported their indigenes from Jos metropolis and the University of Jos has been shut down.

    While some have attributed the killings to ethnic and religious reasons, the state government has maintained they are “purely criminal activities that must be treated as such.”

    “Even though they are quickly given ethno-religious connotations, there is no justification for the killing of anyone human being,” Lalong said on Monday.

    “We are a society that is guided by rules which do not permit anyone to take the laws into his or her hands no matter the grievances.”

    To resolve the security crisis, Lalong said he has engaged with high level stakeholders, including traditional, political, community and religious leaders.

    “It is important to state that we have had several engagements with them in the past and made efforts to ensure that peace prevails in the area,” the Governor said.

    “Between January and July this year, the Plateau Peace Building Agency has conducted over 34 mediation engagements at community levels in Miango, Kwall, Dusten Kura, and Gyelobari Districts of Bassa LGA.

    “In response to the attacks, I also held meetings with the Plateau Inter-Religious Council and directed them, along with the Peace Building Agency to swing into action by carrying out more consultations and engagements to defuse tensions, calm nerves and dig deep into the immediate and remote causes of these conflicts with a view to bringing the ugly situation to an end.”

  • Buhari pleads for peace in Jos, other warring communities

    Buhari pleads for peace in Jos, other warring communities

    President Muhammadu Buhari has pleaded for peace in Jos and other warring communities, assuring all that the administration is on top of events and moving ahead with force to crush the perpetrators of the recent incidents of unrest in Plateau State.

    According to a statement Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari stressed that to achieve success, communities must unite against these horrific attacks, adding that retributive violence is not the answer.

    Buhari said: “While these troubled communities are being reinforced with security personnel, our religious, traditional and other community leaders must not allow the use of use of their spaces for the propagation of violence and incitement to violence.

    “Attempts to simplify the reasons into a basic narrative may help raise donor-dollars for international NGOs, fill pages of overseas newspapers, and burnish foreign politicians’ faith credentials: but this does not increase understanding, nor offer solutions. If anything, simplistic theorizing and finger-pointing makes the situation worse.

    “It is important both for Nigerians and the international community to appreciate that there are a multitude of factors attendant to these troubles.

    “There is the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorism, as well as the spate of kidnappings for ransom, transformed by some misinformed global media into a Muslim-on-Christian threat. Yet, in reality, there are no religious connotations at all when the primate purpose of these acts is to extract money.

    “Then the herder-farmer clashes. While international voices and some Nigerian politicians who seek personal gain from division declare this a matter of religion, for those involved it is almost entirely a matter of access to water and land. Herders have moved their cattle and into contact with farmers for millennia. But, increasingly, due to population pressure, the increased aridity of northern states, and climate change they are forced to travel further south to find grazing lands.

    “Then, further afield in the south-East, IPOB are not struggling for freedom when they attack police stations and property, but rather committing acts of terrorism in order to steal money. IPOB is not defending Christians – as their highly-paid foreign lobbyists claim – when almost every citizen of those the states they terrorize is uniformly Christian. Yet mistakenly, and because the lobbyists for IPOB have duped them, some misguided foreign media and politicians believe it so.

    “As for Nigerians, what we need is to come together. And we must do this firstly and for the most part by our own hands, by casting asunder those who seek to divide us for their own nefarious financial and political gain.”