- Travellers returning from religious gathering in Bauchi
- We have recovered 22 bodies, police confirm
Several people have been killed in Unguwar Rukuba in Jos, Plateau State, Dateline Nigeria has learnt.
A senior officer in Plateau State Police Command said they have recovered 22 dead bodies and evacuated many with injuries.
However, a source at the Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi Center of Islamic Activities said “from the information we received, 32 dead bodies were recovered while some people are still missing.”
Read Also: Presidency ‘strongly condemns’ killing of travelers in Jos
The victims came from Kwara, Kogi, Ekiti and Ondo states. They were returning from the first Islamic calendar (Muharram) prayers for peace and Jumnaat dhikr organized by a renowned Islamic Scholar Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi.
“On their way back home, they were blocked and attacked,” the source added.
An eyewitness said many people were missing, explaining that the attackers blocked seven buses, burnt one and damaged the remaining six.
Chairman of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Foundation Sayyadi Ibrahim Sheikh Dahiru condemned the attack “on innocent citizens of Nigeria in their own country despite the freedom of movement to any part of the country without hindrance.
“It is unfortunate that government cannot guarantee the security of innocent citizens traveling to other parts of the country peacefully.”
He said Nigerians know that the disciples of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi don’t take laws into their hands. “We will watch and see what the government will do in order to bring the perpetrators of this dastardly act to justice.”
He said all over the African continent people know that Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi organises Dhikr Jummaat and special prayers for peace and stability because of the importance of the month of Al-Muharram, the first month in Islamic Lunar calendar.
“We want justice from the government on this dastardly act; we want government to arrest the killers of our people and bring them to justice.”
He prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive the deceased and give their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
During the annual prayers Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi urged government to restore the confidence of the public by protecting lives and properties.
Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi urged Muslims to register since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commenced registration.
“We want all eligible candidates to register and exercise their civic right in order to vote credible leaders that will develop the country,” he said.
The scholar urged Muslims to be reciting Hasbunallahu Waniimal Wakiylu 1350 daily to pray to Allah to end kidnappings, armed robbery and other crimes and criminality in the country.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Jos, Plateau State, the police command said it “received a distress call that a group of attackers suspected to be Irigwe youths and their sympathisers along Rukuba Road of Jos North LGA attacked a convoy of five buses with Muslim faithful who were coming back from the Annual Zikr prayer in Bauchi State and are heading to Ikare in Ondo State.
“Unfortunately, twenty-two (22) persons were killed and Fourteen injured in the attack.
“Upon receipt of the report, a team of police personnel, the military and other sister agencies were immediately mobilised to the scene where twenty one (21) victims were rescued and six suspects arrested.
“The Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, CP Edward Egbuka along with the GOC 3-Division, Major General Ibrahim Ali, also visited the scene and ordered for a discreet investigation to fish out other perpetrators of this barbaric act at large.
“Normalcy has returned to the area.
“The CP warned that those that perpetrated this dastardly act & others that incited it, will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“The Command urges the public to remain calm and to furnish the Police with useful information that will aid the investigation.”
