At least one student was killed on Friday night, while three others were injured when gunmen opened fire in Kuru community, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
According to The PUNCH, all the victims were students of a boarding school within the locality.
The affected students were said to have gone to charge their phones at a filling station close to the school when the gunmen opened fire on them, killing one on the spot, while two others sustained injuries.
A community leader in the area, Sunday Gyang, who confirmed the attack in Jos on Saturday, said the incident occurred at about 7:30 pm on Friday.
Gyang said, “what happened was that yesterday afternoon (Friday), some Fulani herdsmen who were staying at a location in the community using their cows to destroy farmlands of the native community were driven away. So, last night (Friday), they sent terrorists to attack the community.
“Unfortunately, around Science School Kuru, by Emmy fuelling station opposite Assemblies of God’s Church closed to the school, the bandits who came in J5 vehicle opened fire on people.
“A few of the students of Science school kuru who went there to charge their phones were affected. One of them who was shot in the neck by the gunmen died immediately, while two others who also sustained injuries were rushed to the hospital.
“The attack on the community would have been more devasting if not that luckily, the gunshots fired by the terrorists attracted some security escorts on transit who also responded and chased the terrorists away.”
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Alabo Alfred, also confirmed the attack in a statement on Saturday.
Part of the statement read, “The attention of the Plateau State Police Command has been drawn to news making the rounds in some sections of the media space alleging erroneously that Science School Kuru, Jos is under attack by some groups believed to be terrorists.
“The Command wishes to set the records straight that on 10/06/2022 at about 2000hrs, information was received at our end that some unknown hoodlums were firing along Mararaban Jama’a, Riyom road not Science School Kuru Jos as a cross-section of the media reported it.
“Upon receipt of the report, a high powered team of Policemen and other security agencies responded swiftly mobilized to the scene of the incident but on reaching the scene, the gunmen had fled leaving behind one person dead and three others injured.”
The PPRO said the injured persons were conveyed immediately to the hospital for treatment while the police were still on the trail of the fleeing suspects.
The statement added, “The Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, CP Bartholomew N. Onyeka, psc (+) advised members of the Public to go about their lawful business as normalcy has already been restored in the area. He also assured that his men are on ground to contain any further disruption of peace.The CP further advised members of the Press to always cross check their facts before reporting such issues of high security importance to members of the public in order not to mislead them.”
