Body found in well raises tension in Jos

The body of a young man was found in a well at Dutse Uku community of Jos North local government area of Plateau State yesterday morning. The discovery caused heightened tension, especially after restive youths came out in their numbers to protest against the death.

Though the protesters were linking the discovery to fallout of the elections held last Saturday, but the deceased’s travail could not be linked to any political party as the body was found in a well without any injury on his body, raising controversies about his death.

However, when the youths gathered, the residents started saying “Anfara, Anfara” meaning “they have started crisis again.”

But the tension was immediately doused when security operatives swiftly arrived the area and took charge of the situation. Despite the fact that the found body could not be linked to any political violence, management of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) promptly directed all students to vacate the university campus and go home for their safety in case the crisis escalated.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Plateau State command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mathias Terna Tyopev, said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the area was yet to brief him fully of the happening in the area.

He explained that security personnel have been deployed to the area to ensure law and order and disperse the crowd gathering to forestall a breakdown of peace. “Everything is calm and the place is under control,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Information and Communication, Yakubu Dati, described the incident as a threat to the existing peace in the state. Dati appreciated the courage of the people to resist the “unprovoked action”.

Plateau is one of the states that are volatile and easily susceptible to violence.