Late evening shooting alarms Jos community

Central Nigeria: A late evening shooting by suspected armed robbers on Wednesday caused severe tensions in Rantya community of Jos South Local Government Area, Plateau State.

Residents were literally forced out of their houses by two thunderous blasts likely from a locally made cartridge rifle, that reverberated through the community at about 9pm, local time.

The obviously apprehensive residents mostly stood in groups by their houses, somewhat ready to flea on confirming their fears.

Rumours had claimed armed Fulani herdsmen had invaded the community.

Others however said kidnappers attempting to invade a local businessman’s house fired the shots.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Plateau State Command, ASP Gabriel Ogaba however told MK that the shots came from armed robbers.

“Rantya was not under attack. Hoodlums came to rob and they were shooting to scare away people and as a result, people were running and personnel from Rantya Division rushed to the place and as a result, they ran away.

“They came to Rob in a particular house before police were notified and they rushed to the place and they all ran away,” Ogaba told MK.

Rantya community is few meters away from Kangang village where rustlers last two summers killed a local and carted away with 15 cattle belonging to the Jos Anglican Archdiocese Bishop, Rev. Dr. Benjamin Kwashi.

The community itself has scarcely recorded any security breach.

That perhaps explains the palpable tension after the shooting.

As of Thursday morning however, normalcy had been restored in the area.