Gyang Bere, Jos
Panic broke out Tuesday in Kabong community of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State when suspected members of a cult group insisted on the burial of Philip Yakubu, who was killed during a bloody clash between two members of suspected cultist groups.
Daily Sun gathered that the 29-year-old Philip was killed on Saturday Night when two cult groups, Red Axe and the Black Axe, clashed, leaving about 13 persons dead in various locations in Jos, the state capital.
It was gathered that the cultists, who came out in their numbers as early as 8 a.m. to pick the corpse at Bingham University Teaching Hospital Jos, claimed that Philip was there member, and demanded the family to released the corpse to them for burial according to their norms.
The agitation by the cult group, coupled with an attempt to burn Cool Penny Hotel belonging to the gang leader of the rival cult group, drew attention of the Special Task Force (STF) in charge of internal security in Jos and environs to the area.
Daily Sun observed that the action of the killer group sent dangerous signal to marketers who hurriedly closed down their shops as the memory of Saturday episode was still fresh on their minds.
Father of the deceased, Yakubu Jah, described the incident as unfortunate and expressed displeasure over the manner in which his male child was killed.
He said Philip was called out from the house by a friend on Saturday at about 6:30 p.m. and while they were chatting with friends, the rival suspected cultist group appeared suddenly and cut him severally with knife all over his body.
Mr Jah said, before his attention was drawn to the incident, he was informed that his son died before they could reach Bingham University Teaching Hospital Jos, where he was being rushed for treatment.
He said the burial was carried out by the family along Government Secondary School Kabong.
Police Public Relations Officer of Plateau State Police Command, ASP Matthias Terna Tyopev, had confirmed that a corpse was found on Sunday morning at the flyover bridge at Goodluck Jonathan Way at Gada Biu area in Jos North.
He said the police and other security agencies were at the scene to avert further break down of law and other.
“We have beefed up security within the area and environs to curtail further killings in the area,” he said.
Spokesman of the Special Task Force Major Umar Adams said some hoodlums were trying to take advantage of the crowded environment during the burial of the suspected cultist member to unleash terror on innocent people.
He said the STF personnel swing into action to curtail the situation which would have led to fresh lost of lives.