Military taskforce nab Unijos student, others for cultism

The civil unrest characterised by cultist activities that has bedevilled the city of Jos, the Plateau state capital in the past few weeks has been quelled by the Special Military Taskforce others known as ‘Operation Safe Haven’.

The Taskforce made progress in the arrest of one of the kingpins who claimed to be a student of the University of Jos and simply identified as Augustine Andrew.

It would be recalled that a rampaging group of cultists has been terrorising innocent people in Jos, resulting in the death of over 10 persons since their activities went out of control in mid-July.

However, parading over 23 suspects for committing various crimes on Tuesday at the headquarters of the taskforce in Jos, the Commander, Maj. Gen. Augustine Agundu said the cultists and the 23 bandits will be handed over to the directorate of public prosecution under the state ministry of justice.

Maj. Gen.Agundu said the most recent crackdown by the taskforce operatives was premised on the increasing activities of cult groups who have been terrorising communities around Kabong, Gada Biyu and Jenta Adamu all in Jos North.

“10 cult members were apprehended with different types of weapons and illicit substances among which include two locally fabricated pistols, five unused firearms cartridges, quantities of substances suspected to be cannabis sativa, quantities of illicit drugs (Diazepam) and eight mobile phones suspected to have been dispossessed from their victims.

“These bandits were apprehended during series of raids on suspected criminal hideouts around West of Miles, Moonshine Hotel, Summit Hotel, Popular Hotel and Old Bukuru Park all in Jos North Local Government Area.

“In the course of conveying the suspects for interrogation, our operatives were attacked by one of the cultist in a bid to distract the troops to pave way for the arrested cultist to escape from the moving vehicle, but was he however, overpowered by our troops,” the commandant said.