A protest broke out in Gero community, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, on Monday after two women were allegedly killed by suspected gunmen, with angry residents vandalising parts of the local government secretariat and reportedly attacking a police officer.
Danburam Peter a resident in Gero told THE WHISTLER that the victims were found dead in the early hours of Monday behind the Jos South Local Government Secretariat under circumstances that remained unclear at the time of filing this report.
Outraged by the killings, women and youths from the community carried the victims’ bodies to the council secretariat, demanding justice and improved security.
The protesters also blocked part of the road leading to the secretariat, disrupting traffic for several hours.
During the demonstration, some youths vandalised sections of the secretariat, smashing window panes and damaging parts of the building before security personnel intervened.
A local government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said the protesters arrived in large numbers, chanting and demanding government action over the killings.
According to the official, the victims’ bodies were brought to the secretariat on a motorcycle.
He added that some protesters made allegations against security personnel, but said the claims could not be independently verified.
The official also said he received reports that a police officer was attacked during the protest.
A resident, Blessing Dickson, condemned the killings, describing them as another indication of the worsening insecurity affecting communities in Plateau State.
“We are tired of burying our loved ones. These women did nothing to deserve this. Government and security agencies must take decisive action to stop these senseless killings and ensure those responsible are brought to justice,” she said.
Blessing urged the Federal Government and the Plateau State Government to strengthen security in vulnerable communities and intensify efforts to arrest those responsible for the attack.
Security was later reinforced around the Jos South Local Government Secretariat and surrounding communities, while calm gradually returned to the area.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from security agencies were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
