Boko Haram threat: Plateau shuts banks, schools

Nearly one month after several lives were lost in different attacks carried out by Boko Haram in Jos, Plateau State, social and commercial activities in the city have been paralysed, following threats that the sect is set to launch fresh attacks.

Gindri, in Mangu Local Government Area of the state, is deserted, following a letter reportedly sent to the missionary settlement housing three schools.

According to TheCable’s source in Jos, authorities of the schools had to interrupt the academic session for security reasons.

“The letter was not delivered, but it was found in the missionary settlement, which has thousands of students,” he said.

“There is a huge population there, because you have about three schools. One is a special school for the blind; another, a school for only girls; and the last, a mixed school. There is also a tertiary institution in the settlement, so you have a huge population there.

“The school authorities sent text messages to parents for security reasons, and the children are home now. But some students of the tertiary institution are still around.”

As at the time filing this report on Wednesday afternoon, TheCable gathered that security officers were only sparsely present in the area.

“Though there were soldiers around yesterday [Tuesday], God forbid, if anything should happen now, I doubt if the security personnel here can withstand it,” he said.

A resident who spoke anonymously with TheCable said the threat has raised fears in other parts of Jos, to such extent that banks have not been operating around terminus market where a minimum of 118 persons were killed by bomb blasts last month. Schools in the area, he added have also been shut down.

“Schools around Terminus market did not open on Monday and Tuesday. The recent development has scared everybody. Students ran away, even banks did not open,” he said.

“We don’t move in groups anymore. We just go to town get what we want and quickly return to the comfort of our homes. Life is not the same here anymore.”

When TheCable visited the Terminus Market area, United Bank for Africa (UBA), First Bank, and Union Bank — all located on Ahamadu Bello Way — were locked.