Men of the Plateau State police command have taken over major roads and streets in Jos North local government area of the state as youths of Nasarawa community defied the 24-hour Curfew in Jos and Bukuru metroplis.

The youths were said to have came out in large numbers and vowed to continue the protest they started on Sunday. Residents of the area reported shootings by some miscreants.

It was gathered that the youths had converged on Yan Tyre area, crossing the bridge in Nasarawa to loot provision shops near Terminus market.

The 10-day protest against economic hardship in the country had taken a new dimension on Sunday trooped streets of Bauchi road snatching phones and attacking motorists and tricycle riders.

They had threatened to unleash mayhem on the state of residents didn’t come out to join them in the protest.

A resident of Nasarawa, Isa Ahmed, told our correspondent that the residents had a raw deal in the hands of the protesters, who molested anybody in sight.

He said, “In fact the youths were very unruly. They started by ransacking a popular restaurant in the area. If you’re riding in your car and your glass is wound down, they will put their hands and steal anything in the car”

Meanwhile the Police have said they will deal decisively with the protesters.

The Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Olugbemiga Adesina, said the command has robustly made deployments to various areas within Jos metropolis and Bukuru to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

He said in a statement signed by the Police Spokesman, Alfred Alabo that intelligence report at their disposal suggested that hoodlums are planning to cause mayhem in the State.

He said that there were glaring evidence that the miscreants are at the verge of hijacking the peaceful protest to massively loot shops within the commercial nerve of the State.

The statement says, “The Plateau State Police Command is poised to maintain peace in the state and will not allow any person or group of individuals to plunge the State into unruly turmoil.

“It is our constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property and ensure public safety, we are fully committed to ensuring that criminals do not execute their evil plans.

“Therefore, the Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, *CP Emmanuel Olugbemiga Adesina, warns Plateau residents to comply with the State Government curfew as anyone found violating the directive will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the extant laws of the land.

“Our message to the miscreants and mischief makers is simple, leave Plateau State or be ready to face the full weight of the law as we are all out for you!

“Members of the public can report any suspicious activities to the following GSM numbers: Police Control Room Emergency Numbers: 07059473022, 08038907662, 08075391844, 09053872296.” (Daily Sun)

Update news