Fear grips Kaduna residents over Jos killings

Fear grips Kaduna residents over Jos killings

Scene of a bomb blast in Kaduna
 

The killings in Jos, Plateau State on Sunday which claimed the lives of a serving Senator and a member of the State House of Assembly has heightened the already tensed situation in Kaduna State which had a fair share of violence last month, leading to imposition of 7pm to 6am curfew.

The Boko Haram Islamic organisation had claimed responsibility for the two attacks.

In the Kaduna metropolis and environs, security was beefed up in strategic locations. Our correspondent who monitored the situation, reports that the police mounted a “stop and search” operation.

At the Barnawa area of the state, traffic was heavy as the police carried out a thorough search of vehicles. In other locations such as the ever busy Independence Way, heavily armed soldiers were spotted waving down motorists at the check point mounted by them.

Also, at the Bida Road leading to the Central Bank of Nigeria area office as well as the Yakubu Gowon way, security was tight as commercial motorcycle riders, also known as Okada riders, were asked to disembark and roll their bikes.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government on Tuesday commiserated with the government and people of Plateau State over the Sunday attack in the state which claims many lives.

The government, through Governor Patrick Yakowa’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Reuben Buhari, noted that more worrisome was the unfortunate and unnecessary death of Senator Gyang Dantong and the Majority Leader of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Gyang Fulani.

The statement read, “Governor Patrick Yakowa wishes to convey his deepest condolence and sympathy and that of the entire people and Government of Kaduna State over the unfortunate recurrent crises in Plateau State.

“The governor expresses his deepest sympathy to Governor Jonah Jang, the Leadership of the National Assembly, the families of the bereaved and the entire good people of Plateau State.

“He further reiterates his belief in the fact that the shedding of innocent blood has never been the only solution to solving any differences. It only compounds the issues.”

The governor called on the people of the North to embrace peace, to fast-track the economic transformation of the region.

“He urges the Government and people of Plateau to be strong, take heart, remain focused and pray that such disaster becomes a thing of the past,” she said.