10 feared killed in Plateau, Bauchi,Yobe

IT was a harvest of deaths in Plateau, Bauchi and Yobe States as no fewer than 10 persons were killed in separate bloody incidents.

In Plateau State unknown assailants invaded Chaha village in Kaduna-Vom in Jos South Council and killed a family of four, while in Bauchi State unknown gunmen yesterday killed two soldiers and injured a civilian at a  suya spot along Kano -Potiskum-Maiduguri road in Azare Council.

Also, the military Joint Task Force (JTF) on Tuesday killed four suspected Boko Haram gunmen and arrested four others at Gashua in Yobe State.

Meanwhile, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has relaxed the15-hour curfew to 13 hours in Potiskum beginning from Tuesday.

The review of the curfew time is contained in a statement by the governor’s  Special

Adviser on Press Affairs and Information, Abdullahi Bego, saying  the “restriction of movements in Potiskumtownship now starts from 6pm to 7am daily, beginning from  Tuesday, November 6, 2012.

To prevent importation of arms and ammunition into Yobe State, by suspected Boko Haram terrorists, the JTF has introduced  sniffer dogs to “detect” concealed arms and nitrate based materials used in the making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at military check points in the state.

Confirming the attack at Chaha village, the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity, Pam Ayuba, said: “A family of four people was brutally killed on Monday. A father, a year-old child, wife and another boy were all hacked to death. Before the attackers began their cruel action, they had shot into the air to chase out the victims for attack.

A 14-year old boy who was also injured is receiving treatment at the Vom Christian Hospital.”

Also, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Deputy Superintendent Abuh Emmanuel said: “Unfortunately, the gunmen killed Iliya Yakubu, Iliya Lyop, Iliya Nuhu all of the same household and family, while Iliya Alice and Iliya Peace were injured and taken to the Vom Christian Hospital for treatment. But Iliya Peace later died between yesterday (Tuesday) while on admission. No arrest has been made but investigation has commenced.”

A top military officer at the Brigade Command 33 Artillery Brigade Shadawanka Barracks Bauchi who did not want his name in print, confirmed the killings to journalists in an interview, adding “yes they killed two of our men and we have received the report.”

Speaking on yesterday’s raid and arrests in Gashua, the spokesman of JTF, Lt. Lazarus Eli said that at about 5 a.m. on Tuesday, men of the security task force raided a suspected terrorist’s hideout in Gashua town in Bade Local Council Area of Yobe State.