From Gyang Bere, Jos
The cold city of Jos, capital of Plateau State, used to be one of the best and most admirable places to visit in Nigeria during the summer because of the charming scenery. But this notion has been eroded by growing security threats recently, as youths suspected to be cultists raped 32-year-old Ruth Yakadi to death in the heart of the city.
Ruth, a graduate of the University of Jos, was said to be returning home from Rayfield, where she got a job two weeks before the unfortunate incident. She was murdered at about 9pm on Saturday, December 10, 2022, and the body dumped near a filling station in Farin-Gada, Jos North Local Government Area.
The development sent another danger signal to young ladies who have become endangered species since January 2022, beginning with the murder of one Jennifer in a hotel a few kilometres from the scene of the latest incident.
Immediately the body was discovered the following Sunday, relatives, neighbours and sympathizers, who converged at the scene mobilized to register their displeasure over the unfortunate incident, were dispersed by security personnel who took away the body from the scene.
The killing of Ruth generated confusion in the entire Jos North LGA as boys within the suburb insisted on a peaceful protest against the barbaric act.
It was observed that Ruth was stripped, with her underwear hanging down her legs, indicating that she had been raped by people suspected to be gunmen or cultists.
A witness said: “The lady’s underwear was hanging on her legs, an indication that she was raped. Her legs were dusty; this depicted that there was a struggle or, probably, she was raped somewhere and her body dumped there and she was also stabbed.
“It was discovered that she lived at Zaruma in Farin-Gada and recently got a job in Rayfield K. She was returning from work on Saturday around 9pm when she met her untimely death at the hands of the unscrupulous elements.”
Another account said that the victim had a disagreement with her boyfriend, a member of a cult group, and he killed her and dumped the body by the roadside.
Hoodlums took advantage of the protest to attack innocent traders at the tomato market in Farin Gada before security agencies’ intervention.
The body was released on Thursday, December 15, for burial. Her remains were laid to rest in her hometown, Rusau village, in Jos North, after a funeral service at St. John Catholic Church, Rusau.
Her relations cried and wailed over the murder of Ruth and called on God to exposed the perpetrators to face the full wrath of the law. She was described by sympathizers as a decent, hardworking and a resilient young lady who was full of life.
Meanwhile, spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, Alfred Alabo, a deputy superintendent of police, said investigation had commenced to unravel the circumstances that led to her death with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.
