Unknown assailants kill widow in Bukuru

Residents of Bukuru in Jos South local government area, about seven kilometres away from Jos, the Plateau state capital, have been thrown into apprehension after unidentified gunmen fired indiscriminately on Monday night, killing a widow instantly, and leaving a man with severe injury.
Blueprint gathered that the gunmen invaded the community after 8:00 pm, when residents were still going about their normal activities.
A source said: “We were seated when we heard gun shots, and eventually the bullets hit a woman who died instantly, while a man was also shot, but did not die.”

Alhaji Ado Abdu, the elder brother of the widow, said: “Maryam Abdu, 42, mother of seven, was on her way from Jos when she was shot soon after dropping out of the bus that conveyed her.”
He said one other person was also shot, adding,  “It was the brother of the other injured man, who also escaped the shot, that told us that my sister had been shot dead. The body was brought home at night and we reported the incident to the DPO.”

He said before Maryam was buried about nine bullets were found on her body.
Secretary of Bukuru Elders Forum, Alhaji Baba Bala, said the other man, Garba Muhammad, sustained injury in his abdomen and that he had been admitted to the Bingham Hospital, Jos.

Our correspondent, who visited Bukuru, noticed heavy military personnel in addition to sounds from gunshots yesterday afternoon.
The Media/Information Officer of the Special Task Force (STF), Capt. Salisu Mustapha, who confirmed the incident, said the situation had been brought under control.

In a related development, the Plateau state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe, has ordered the arrest of all ward heads within the Gyel community.
Olakpe told newsmen that the era of hiding under the cover of unknown gunmen to perpetuate crime was over in Jos.
He said: “This wicked and ungodly act of impunity is unacceptable.  I have personally called the paramount ruler of the affected area and informed him that ward heads and other community leaders must produce the gunmen or else be held accountable.”

He added that: “I have given the leaders a 24-hour ultimatum to produce the gunmen. Leaders of the affected area have a choice to either produce the so called unknown gunmen or failure to do so we will arrest them. I have deplored more officers to cordon off the area and restore normalcy. I also ordered them to apprehend those found wanting in the area.