The streets of Jos, the Plateau capital, are deserted as residents observe the curfew imposed by the state government on Sunday.
The curfew was imposed by Gov. Jonah Jang, following the deteriorating security situation after the deaths of Sen Gyang Dantong (Plateau North) and Gyang Fulani, Majority Leader, Plateau House of Assembly.
The duo, according to Maj.-Gen. Henry Ayoola, Commander, Special Task Force (STF), slumped and later died at the Barkin Ladi General Hospital, when unknown gunmen attacked them at a burial.
A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Simon Mwadkon, who also slumped, was, however, revived at the hospital.
The curfew covers the four local government areas of Jos North, Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondents, who visited some parts of the city and its environs, report that the streets were totally empty, while residents remained indoors.
NAN also reports that fierce-looking securitymen had taken over the highways to enforce the curfew.
At the Secretariat Junction, in Central Jos, defaulters were turned back, while some were punished for being on the streets while the curfew was in place.
The STF spokesman, Capt. Salisu Mustafa, told NAN that the curfew would be relaxed later in the afternoon “if the security situation improved’’.
He said, however, that normalcy had been restored in the areas attacked at the weekend, and that reinforcement had been sent to the volatile areas.
NAN reports that the curfew was initially from dusk to dawn, but was reviewed Monday morning to 12.30 p.m. (NAN)