One Killed, Several Others Injured As Gunmen Attack Jos Pub

 

File Photo

At least one person has been confirmed killed and several others injured after an attack by gunmen on a pub in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

The attack, which was confirmed to a Punch correspondent in Jos on Sunday by the Deputy Commander of the Special Task Force, Emma Ado, occurred on Saturday when football fans were watching the English FA Cup match between Manchester City and Watford.

“Yes, someone told me of the attack but I have yet to get the details. I will get back to you as soon as I have the details of what transpired,” Ado said.

However, eyewitnesses said the gunmen, suspected to be cultists, stormed the Garden Palace Hotel and Bar in the Busa Buji suburb of Jos around 7pm and opened fire on the football fans.

One of the residents, Mr Philip Azi, who escaped being killed, said a local footballer, identified as John Davou, was hit three times in the head by the gunmen, while several others fans were injured.

He said, “What I know is that during the attack, John Davou, 25, died instantly, while another man, Francis Bot, who was sitting close to Davou, sustained bullet wounds. Several others also sustained injuries while trying to escape from the scene.”

Another resident, Mr Mathew Nengak, added, “I suspect that Davou was probably the target, because he was the only one pelted with bullets, while everyone else only sustained injuries, some with bullet wounds.

“The victim recently sat for the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and was hoping to gain admission into a university before he was killed by the gunmen. This is really sad.”

Calls put across to the telephone number of the spokesman from the state police command, Mr Mathias Tyopev, rang out.