Riot in Jos over youths arrest

Riot broke out yesterday in Jos, Plateau State when some youths were arrested in connection to the burning of two buses branded with President Goodluck Jonathan’s pictures on Saturday evening.
The riot led to the burning of an uncompleted police outpost on Bauchi road as well as destruction of a Hilux pick-up belonging to the Special Task Force (STF).
It was gathered that members of the STF stormed Bauchi road yesterday morning where one of the buses was set ablaze and arrested six youths.
The arrest of the youths, who some members of the community claimed were innocent led to a riot with the STF shooting sporadically in the air to disperse the irate youths.
Calm returned to the area around 1pm, just as security in the area was beefed up.
STF Media and Information Officer, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, said: “In the process of rounding up youths who were involved in the breach of peace on Saturday, some other youths tried to create confusion by blocking the road and burning tires. An abandoned police outpost was torched, but we have been able to put off the fire and the situation is calm.”
Iweha warned youths in the state to desist from taking laws into their hands, especially as elections draw near, stressing that the STF would not hesitate to deal with any individual or group that attempts to breach the peace in the state.
Our correspondent reports that two buses branded with President Goodluck Jonathan’s pictures were set ablaze by irate youths around Mango street and Bauchi road in Jos North Local Government Area on Saturday evening.
The youths claimed the bus driver attracted attention when he almost hit a young lady as a result of over speeding. The two drivers were however set free while the buses were burnt.

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