Troops and Police Mobile Force(MOPOL)cops of the Special Task Force in Jos
DAILY PUNCH
AUGUST 20, 2012
Eid-el-Fitr celebrations were disrupted in Kano and Plateau states on Sunday after gunshots were heard in Kano metropolis and in Farin Gada, North Jos Local Government, where 12 cars were also destroyed. A policeman was reportedly injured when suspected Boko Haram members fired at a military roadblock along Maiduguri Road, Kano, while the police foiled a violent confrontation between Muslim youths and some residents of Farin Gada.
Trouble was said to have started when some Muslims youths, while returning from the Eid prayers ground, allegedly hauled stones at residence of Farin Gada, Jos. It was learnt the youth, who also allegedly brandished guns, stopped at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Farin Gada and allegedly destroyed no fewer than 12 cars parked on the church premises. Their action angered youths of the predominantly Christian area, who poured out to revenge.
It took the intervention of the Special Task Force who shot into the air to scare them away. The Plateau State Police Command, in a statement by the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Danjuma Azikiti, condemned the act which it described as “unfortunate”. While confirming that no life was lost and no church or mosque was burned,the police urged leaders of both Christians and Muslims to caution their members.
Army spokesman, Lt. Ikedichi Iweha, said the attack on the military checkpoint in Kano was repelled. After shooting the policeman, the gunmen were said to have aimed at other
security personnel who returned fire.The gunmen resorted to shooting sporadically into the air before escaping into the Kundila Estate from where they said to have emerged from.
Immediately they escaped, the entry and exit points of the estate as well as the neighbouring Daurawa Quarters were cordoned off by soldiers. An eyewitness also told The PUNCH that the gunmen opened fire at the security personnel when stopped to be searched.
