EXPLOSIONS ROCK JOS, 20 KILLED, SECURITY BEEFED UP

As Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, residents of Jos, Plateau State, are in mourning, as no fewer than nine separate explosions rocked Gada Biu, Kabong and Angwa Rukuba area of the state yesterday, killing about 20 people.

Saturday Sun gathered that the bombs went off at about 7. 30 pm in quick succession and lasted till about 8.40pm, killing the victims and injuring score of others. The first explosion, from our findings, went off in front of a Catholic Church in the area, while subsequent explosions occurred a few kilometer to the police headquarters.

Sources revealed that bodies of the dead as well as those injured were taken to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

The state's Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abdulrahman Akano, confirmed the incident but declined to give the number of casualties. However, a top police officer in the city revealed that he could only confirm seven dead victims at the time of this report.

Commander of the special task force in Jos, Brigadier General Hassan Umaru, also confirmed the explosion last night but declined to give details, as, according to him, he was rushing down to the explosions scenes.

Military sources told Saturday Sun that an unidentified group had sent out warning that it would take measures to ensure that Christmas was not celebrated in Plateau State.

Following the bomb explosion, security has been beefed up in the affected areas and the entire state capital. By last night, soldiers were deployed to the areas. Also, the areas have been cordoned off, with soldiers standing guard at major roads.

Fear has gripped the ancient tin city, with most of the residents holed up in their homes. Darkness has enveloped parts of the city, as a result of power outage.

Jos has suffered many explosions this year with so many lives lost.