Date Published: 01/23/10

Jos mayhem: 450 dead bodies found inside well near Kuru

...As fears grip Abuja residents

Jonah Jang

About 450 dead bodies were said to have been discovered at a well and a shallow grave near the Nigerian Institute of Policy And Strategic Studies, NIPPS, in Kuru near Jos, the Plateau State capital and investigations are on-going to unravel those who dumbed the bodies believed to have been victims of the Jos crisis in the wells.

The identities of the bodies are not yet known and it could not be ascertained if they are Christians or Muslims.

This is even as fresh fears have been express by some Christians alleging that some Muslim fanatics are currently making plans to poison foods and drinks at various fast food joints run by Muslims. Text messages were said to have been sent out over the weekend warning Christians in Abuja to beware of fast food joints owned or operated by Muslims in the capital territory and beyond.

The heightening of suspicion between adherents of both faiths is coming exactly a week after several worshipers in St. Michael's Catholic Church, Nasarawa, Jos, were clubbed to death by suspected Muslim fanatics.

The text messages read "Please don't buy food/drink (poisoned) from Muslim hawkers especially near Church Premises/Convention grounds. That is their new attack plan in Abuja. Please spread this to your loved ones."

Meanwhile, most residents of Jos remained indoors at the weekend over fears that some soldiers ordered by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan may have began avenging the killings of members of their faith or ethnic group.

Food and other basic supplies are reportedly running low and residents who spoke to Pointblanknews.com expressed worries over how to get food, water and money. 

The nationwide fuel crisis has not helped matters. Most residents swore to leave Jos as soon as the "siege" is lifted. "It has become clear that their is a grand plot to lay Jos waste, so what else is one supposed to be waiting for" queried one distraught resident.