JOS: Some residents of Jos, Plateau state capital were at the weekend held hostage by hoodlums who invaded their area, looting shops and attacking motorists.
The hoodlums dispossessed residents of Nasarawa Fillin Ball, Gangare, Congo Junction as well as Bauchi Road of their valuables including cash while smashing windscreens of vehicles.
Witnesses said the hoodlums numbering over 30 and reportedly armed with machetes, bottles and other dangerous weapons operated freely due to the absence of security operatives and men of the Civilian Joint TaskForce JTF.
A female resident (names withheld) in Congo junction in the area told Youths Digest that the hoodlums broke into one of the shops attached to her house and carted away properties belonging to her neighbour.
At Gangare, some cars had their wind-shields damaged while few houses were burgled.
Youths Digest checks revealed that the incident started on Sunday when the hoodlums began molesting members of the vigilance group who had voluntarily taken charge of the security of the entire vicinity.
The members of the vigilance team were alleged to have deliberately killed one of the youth last week during an encounter with them.
Residents of the area are now calling for prompt intervention of the police because so as to guarantee their safety. They want the government to mediate and settle the dispute especially as Muslims in the country begin observance of the Ramadan.
Comrade Usama Jaafar,
Assistant Editor of Youths Digest (North Central)
Follow us on twitter: @youthsdigest
