Jos: Gunmen kill two policemen, attack Police College

Two riot policemen attached to the Special Task Force in Jos have been killed by unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen. Corporals Safiyanu Suleman and Thomas Kozah were said to have been killed in Palang, Bachict, Riyom Local Government Area on Sunday. Also, two policemen were shot on Monday when gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram attacked the the Police Staff College, Jos. The two policemen, identified as Sgt. Bitrus Oloji, and CPL Japheth were wounded and admitted at the Intensive Care Unit of Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos for treatment. One of them was said to be in a critical condition as he was shot on the forehead. Three other persons were said to have been injured by the same gunmen at Tahoss in Riyom. Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Samuel Dabai, confirmed the incident. Our correspondent learnt that killings had become a daily occurrence in Riyom, despite the imposition of a state of emergency in the local government, along with three others – Barakin Ladi, Jos North, and Jos South. It was learnt that the gunmen, who came in convoy of five cars , stormed the Police College at about 11pm, shot into the air before they engaged the policemen at the gate in a gun duel. The attack was, however, repelled one hour after the siege. The attackers were said to have positioned themselves at various points before storming the gate, an action that took the policemen at the gate by surprise. The guards reportedly beat a retreat before reinforcement from the college came to their rescue. The attackers, according a source in the college, were about 20 in number. According to sources, the timely arrival of the Special Task Force prevented what would have been a bloodbath. Gunshots reportedly resounded in and around Kuru and Vom all through Monday night Police Public Relations Officer of the College, Mr. Akeke Emminidofa, told our correspondent on the telephone that the authorities of the college were in a meeting over the unfortunate incident, promising to call back but had not done so at the time of filing this report. The college was among the places mentioned as targets by Boko-Haram through text messages and letters some weeks before the attack on the headquarters of Church of Christ in Nigeria and St. Finbarr’s Catholic Church.