The city of Jos, capital of Plateau State, was once again  thrown into confusion yesterday when people started to run helter skelter believing that another crisis similar to that of  November 2008 had broken out.
Eyewitnesses said the pandemonium was caused by the news that some soldiers tortured a man  at Filin Ball area of Nasarawa Gwom who later died, prompting youths in the area to stage a protest.
The situation was, however, brought under control by the timely arrival of security operatives drawn from both the army and the police.
But some residents of the tin city who are still sceptical about their safety had begun to relocate to neighbouring towns and villages for fear of possible attack.
Plateau State Police Command has, however, appealed to the people of the state to ''remain calm as event that generated the panic has been brought under control and the security agents are working round the clock to ensure that the incident does not rear its head again''.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Assistant Superintendent Mohammed Lerama, who briefed the media on what actually happened yesterday morning said the timely arrival and intervention of security patrol teams to the area saved the situation from getting out of control.
According to him, ''There is an area called Filin Ball in Nasarawa Gwom and soldiers are stationed there. They arrested one Nasiru Tella with a quantity of indian hemp. The case is under investigation now. What really happened between the soldiers and the man, we learnt was that he was beaten and tortured. So, a good Samaritan took him to the hospital before he died. That was what generated tension in the area. The youths now mobilised themselves to cause trouble.''
Lerama said when they got the information, all the patrol teams were mobilised to the area to put it in check. He said what should be done when such situation occurs is to hand the suspect over to the police.
''Normally, when you arrest people, you are to hand them over to police. You are not supposed to take laws into your hands. The police are the ones to investigate and take necessary actions,' he said.'
Contacted on the issue on telephone,   spokesman of the 3rd Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba Barracks, Jos, Lt-Col. Galadima Shekari, said he was not aware of the incident as he  was in  Abuja on an official fassignment.
Meanwhile, three armoured tanks are now stationed at the troubled spot to avert further occurence of such incident.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=146406

you have spoken well. i was in ma office wen stories re flyin around, thanks for the true picture well painted.

its well with our land