{"id":1188,"date":"2013-03-30T03:42:14","date_gmt":"2013-03-30T03:42:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigeria-news\/easter-jonathan-prays-for-peace-as-gunmen-unleash-mayhem-in-plateau\/"},"modified":"2013-03-30T03:42:14","modified_gmt":"2013-03-30T03:42:14","slug":"easter-jonathan-prays-for-peace-as-gunmen-unleash-mayhem-in-plateau","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/easter-jonathan-prays-for-peace-as-gunmen-unleash-mayhem-in-plateau\/","title":{"rendered":"Easter: Jonathan Prays for Peace as Gunmen unleash Mayhem in Plateau"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday prayed and sued for peace in the country and joined Christians and their counterparts the world over to celebrate Easter, gunmen unleashed violence on the quiet Ganawuri chiefdom of Riyom Council, Plateau State, leaving no fewer than 20 people dead. Earlier that same day, unknown gunmen killed over 24 residents and two mobile policemen attached to the Special Task Force (STF) in Mangor village in Bokkos Council.<\/p>\n

Leading the opening prayer during a special service for the day, which attracted the President\u2019s mother, Eunice and some of his aides at the Aso Villa Chapel, the President alongside his Chaplain, Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba, who led the service, urged Christians to emulate Jesus Christ thereby amplifying the theme of the occasion which featured the suffering of Christ and the reading of his seven words before his death. Easter marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

Eyewitness accounts said the gunmen carrying very sophisticated weapons wore masks and opened fire randomly with no resistance either from resident vigilante groups or security agents from the Special Task Force (STF); who confirmed the attack, saying no arrests were made; as the attackers fled immediately STF personnel arrived the scene. A local Fulani militia is suspected of carrying out the attack.<\/p>\n

In a statement yesterday, the Plateau State Government described the killings as unfortunate, bearing in mind the implication of creating disaffection among communities. It urged the local government authorities to take measures to safeguard lives and property.\u00a0 As usual, economic activities were paralyzed, as nobody could come out to transact any business.<\/p>\n

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe, confirmed the attack, but did not disclose the number of fatalities. He said everything was calm at the moment, as the Police, in collaboration with the STF and other security agencies had taken control of the situation and taken steps to track down the attackers.<\/p>\n

He assured that the security agents were doing everything possible to curtail such attacks and had made some hotlines available to the people through which they can contact security agencies when they suspect any unusual movements in their neighborhood.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Posted in Nigeria News. <\/a>A DisNaija.Com<\/a> network.<\/p>\n

Source: Huhu Online<\/p>\n

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