9 killed in fresh violence in central Nigeria
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Xinhua, August 30, 2011
Nine people were killed in Kabong area of Jos North Local Government Area during pandemonium that erupted in the Plateau state capital Jos Monday morning, throwing the state again into fresh confusion as citizens were seen running from all directions on alleged skirmishes in some parts of the metropolis.
The Youth Chairman of Kabong area Yusuf Kadiya disclosed the casualty figures to news men in Jos on Monday. Kadiya said all of the people who lost their lives were his members, he alleged that soldiers opened fire on the victims. He said several others sustained injuries.
Reactingon the incident, the Plateau Commissioner for Information Abraham Yeljab, in conjunction with the Special Adviser to the governor on media Pam Ayuba at a press briefing in Jos, describe the incident as "regrettable".
Yeljab said government have directed the health commissioner in the state to provide enough drugs to hospitals which victims of the crisis are being treated. It was gathered that several people are injured lying critical at the Evangel Hospital in Jos without due attention due to their numbers.
Yeljab called for calmness by the citizenry, explaining that adequate security measures have been put in place. He said government was meetings with top security chiefs in the state as a means of curtailing the unfortunate incident.
Confirming the Monday pandemonium earlier, spokesperson of the Special Task Force in Jos Captain Charles Ekoecha in a chat with reporters at the force headquarters in Jos, said members of the task forces have been deployed to the trouble zones, and security surveillance generally strengthened in the state as air patrol was on.
Most streets within Jos North and part of Jos South local government area were deserted following the skirmishes which its source is yet to be known.
