After the tragic news from Jos, the Plateau State Capital, newsmen in Jos spoke with some of the survivors of Saturday's attack on Fulani travellers around Gada-Biyu – Rukuba road in Jos North Local Government Area.
Some narrated how security agents and other ‘Good Samaritans’ rescued them from the mob.
Their accounts came as new tally shows that 27 of the travellers were killed in the carnage, which has drawn outrage and condemnation.
Reports say that about 90 travellers in five buses were attacked by persons described by the police as “suspected Irigwe militants and their sympathisers”.
The travellers had attended an annual Zikr (prayer session) and celebration of the Islamic New Year held at the Dahiru Usman Bauchi Mosque in Bauchi.
‘How we’re rescued’
Muhammad Ibrahim, who escaped with injuries, told Daily Trust that a Christian tricycle operator had helped disguise him with a face cap and drove him out of the chaos into the city where he alighted at the Jos Central Mosque.
Narrating the incident that led to the killing of 27 travellers, Ibrahim said: “When we arrived Gada-Biyu area, there was traffic and we thought it was the normal traffic but before we knew it, people from all angles started stoning us and there was no way we could drive further because they had surrounded our busses and they were many.
“The area was congested, I don’t know how I came out of the bus but I was on the ground and they were hitting me with stones then I remember a tricycle operator whom I believe is a Christian asked me to quickly jump in, and he drove off,” he said.
Another survivor, Ibrahim Jibril told our correspondent that he found refuge in a nearby bush where he watched as the youths attacked and killed some of his travelling companions.
“Everyone ran for cover during the attack and fortunately for me, I ran into the bush. Moments later, I heard the siren and knew that security agents had arrived. Realizing the area had become safe for me, I ran out of the bush and headed for the soldiers who stopped their vehicle and quickly rescued me,” he said.
Yusuf Adamu who hid inside a culvert said he was lucky to still be with his phone and therefore dialled the number of a relative in Ekiti State who advised him to stay put until security agents arrived.
“My relative in Ekiti was able to call one of our travelling companions who had survived the attack and told them I was alive and hiding in a culvert. Moments later a call came in through my phone and I was advised to come out when I hear the siren.”
He said on hearing the siren he had rushed out of his hiding place and approached soldiers who rescued him in their vehicles.
The Secretary-General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, (JNI) in Plateau State, Alh. Sani Mudi told Daily Trust that some of the victims were rescued by some good Christians, saying that the first person rescued was brought to the Jos Central Mosque by an Igbo resident.
He said: “I can sincerely tell you that some of the victims were rescued by some Christians in the Kabong area. Most of them are our political associates and felt that it was better to rescue them than to allow them to be killed. They have tried so much and deserved to be praised.”
Mudi, who urged Muslims and Christians to live together in peace called for calm and urged Nigerians to see one another as humans first before anything.
Death toll rises to 27 as security rescue 36
Meanwhile, death toll from the incident has reached 27, relevant authorities said yesterday.
Also, 36 of the travellers who were heading back to Ondo and Ekiti states from Bauchi and got lost while struggling to flee from the scene of the ambush have been rescued.
Daily Trust reports that security agents have recovered two additional corpses on Sunday, increasing the death toll of travellers who were killed to 27.
Operation Safe Haven, the multi-security task force saddled with maintaining law and order in Plateau, parts of Bauchi and Southern Kaduna, said yesterday that 36 of the travellers have been rescued alive.
The State Secretary of Fityanul Islam of Nigeria, Malam Sabo Umar, who is currently the custodian of the victims, confirmed to Daily Trust that 27 had been killed while 19 are still receiving treatment.
He, however, said those who have been rescued and are in his custody are 35 while 10 people are still missing.
Having earlier imposed a dusk to dawn curfew in three local government areas of Jos North, Jos South and Bassa, Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong yesterday imposed a 24-hour curfew in Jos North LGA to contain further security threats.
Our correspondent reports that angry youth had reportedly attempted to block the Bauchi Road on Sunday morning, an action that led to the imposition of a 24-hour curfew by the state government.
Our correspondent who went around the city centre of Jos reports that almost all major roads and streets were deserted as yesterday evening when the curfew came into force. Residents remained indoors while a combined team of security personnel and vigilantes were seen combing the city to restoring law and order.
CREDIT: DAILYTURST
