A boarding school student has been killed by gunmen who also injured three others in Kuru community, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau state.
Punch reported that all the victims were students of a boarding school within the locality. The incident occurred after they allegedly went to charge their phones at a filling station close to the school, where the gunmen opened fire on them, killing one on the spot, while three others sustained injuries.
An eyewitness told the publication that the incident occured at about 7:30 pm on Friday June 10.
The community leader in the area, Sunday 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 farm lands of the native community were driven away. So, last night (Friday), they sent terrorists to attack the community.
“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 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.”
Reacting to the incident, the State Police Command in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, said;
“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 it is reported by a cross section of the media. Upon receipt of the report, a high-powered team of Policemen and other security agencies responded swiftly and mobilized to the scene of the incident.
“On reaching the scene, the gunmen had fled leaving behind one person dead and three others injured. The injured persons were conveyed immediately to the hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, the Police are still on the trail of the fleeing suspects. The Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, CP Bartholomew Onyeka, 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 the 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.