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| Idris Ibrahim, Inspector General of Police
RAMPANT CASES OF STEALING IN JOS
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-VICTIMS NARRATE
EXPERIENCES
By Lovins Yakubu
Friday, 28th
July, 2017
Investigation by African
Drum shows increase in stealing in Jos and its environs. Residents who
spoke to us, most of them under condition of unanimity said the rate of
stealing has reached an alarming proportion because it is happening almost on a
daily basis irrespective of timing. Three traders in Gada Biyu, Rukuba Road and
Alheri narrated how they were constantly robed within six weeks in their
various shops. According to the trader in Gada Biyu whose shop is located close
to Rukuba Barrack park, “ I was robed here twice in two weeks. The second
incident happened at about 7:30pm. Two boys entered my shop and pretended they
wanted to buy some items, but before you know it they place a gun on my neck soI
had to surrender all the money I realized from sales that day”
The owner of the store in Alheri also narrated a similar
encounter in less than one month. “ it was a terrible experience. Two boys
wearing long jackets came into my shop at about 7pm and ordered for a packet of
powdered milk. After picking the item from the counter, I noticed the shorter
boy was pointing a gun at me. It dawn on me that there were more than two of
them as I saw three more pacing up and down by the entrance to my shop. They
went away with all the money I made from sales that day.
Narrating his ordeal, the store owner in Rukuba Road said “I
got a phone call from my Landlord at about 2am informing that my shop was
burgled. When I went to the shop, I noticed the whole door was completely
removed and I wondered how that happened until my landlord who saw them but
couldn’t do anything because of the sophisticated weapons they were carrying
explained more to me that the bandits came in a Volkswagen bus numbering five.
An iron chain was tied to the vehicle and hooked to a knot on the door of the
store, started the vehicle and engaged it on gear one. As the vehicle moved, it
pulled out the iron door of the store. They packed all the bags of rice in the
store with other items amounting to hundreds of thousands of naira. It was
during the process of pulling out the iron door that my landlord called me but
before we arrived, they had already left. I reported the matter to the Police”
Another trader whose shop is around Hill station round about who
gave his name as Peter is another victim. He said his shop was burgled a week
ago and items worth more than two Hundred Thousand Naira were carted away.
According to him, the incident was happening for the third time in less than
one year. He also said the matter was reported at A Division of the Nigerian
Police.
Mama Suzan (not real name) whose house is located at New Zaria
Terrace Jos also narrated her experience. According to her, “ it was around 2am
last week when we were woken by the sound of our broken window were the armed
bandits gained entrance. We were only two in the house and were so lucky to
have escaped from the other side of the compound. When we returned the next
day, we noticed they had carted away with items (which include Laptops, cameras
and other items) worth more than four Hundred Thousand naira apart from cash.
We reported the matter to the police and they even came to the house and snap
some shots and promised to do their best with regard to the issue.”
Two ladies also narrated how each of them was robed at about
7pm of their valuables along Tafawa Balewa Street and Zik Avenue respectively.
Sources who spoke to us on condition of anonymity said that Tafawa Balewa axis
is one area they strongly advised people to avoid especially at nights.
Similar stories were also narrated by victims in Bukuru and
Dadi Kowa where in these places, an attempt to go to church or market without
leaving behind a person in the house may spell doom for residents as many in
these areas have loss valuable items including electronics and house items to
bandits at the slightest chance they get. When major revelation of our
investigation is that except very few cases, most residents are always
reluctant to report most criminal activities to the police.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Plateau
state Command Mr. Terna Tyope does not agree there is increase in stealing in
Jos. Speaking exclusively to African
Drum, the Police spokesman believed there could only be some isolated cases
but that the situation now is better than how it was two years ago. He added that the Police is well positioned
now to serve the people better and further called on residents to always report
criminal activities to the police.
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