Operation Safe Haven Commander, Major General Augustine Agundu, yesterday said the body of one Enoch Monday, which triggered last Sunday’s civil disturbance around Dutse uku, Rikkos, Tina junction and Cele-Bridge, in Jos north was beheaded by the assailants.
Genearal Agundu stated this while parading 17 suspects for various offences including those in connection with Sunday’s crisis.
He stated that, “the mayhem was a result of the discovery of the beheaded corpse of one Enoch Monday, an indigene of Miango, who was murdered by unknown persons and his chopped off head was equally taken away by the assailants.”
The taskforce commander said the incident had triggered an ethno-religious dimension resulting in reprisals by some irate youths which eventually claimed one Ayuba Mohammed but stressed that 10 persons have been arrested and would be transferred to the appropriate authority for prosecution.
General Agundu said during the operation to restore normalcy, the taskforce arrested Adam Ibrahim, Bello Mohammed, Yusuf Ibrahim Mansur Suleiman, Sanusi Mohammed and Zahraddeen Haruna, with premium motor spirit in two water bottles, machetes, axe and cutlasses, in their attempt to commit arson and reprisals.
He said Abubakar Abdullahi, Mansur Abdullahi and Agwon Azi, were also arrested for hurling stones and dangerous objects at troops who were on cordon and search operation, adding that the intent of the hoodlums was to inflict injuries and prevent the troops from conducting their operation.
“Items recovered from the hoodlums included substances suspected to be cannabis sativa, charms and rubber solution. Preliminary investigation conducted on the suspects revealed that they participated in the civil unrest which occurred within the general area on May 26th,” he said.
General Agundu also said troops deployed to Jema’a LGA in Kaduna, acting on a tip-off from Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) on May 18 apprehended three suspected gunrunners and an armed robber identified as Philip Yusuf, Jessey Yusuf, Caleb Yusuf and Istifanus Machu.
He said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspected gun runners are siblings and have been into fabrication of fire arms since 2006.
“Items recovered from the gun runners include two unfinished fabricated revolver guns, two welding machines, one painting machine, one generator set and a box containing assorted tools.
