Jos — The death toll from Monday night's shooting at a drinking spot at Heipang in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State rose to 10, yesterday, as two of those hospitalised later died.

The increase in the number of deaths worsened the tension generated by the killings in the area as people from the village, yesterday, took over the Jos-Abuja highway to protest the attack.

This is even as the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has condemned the continued killing of innocent Northerners following ethnic and religious disputes and asked for a change of heart by those concerned.

National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Mr. Anthony Sani, who spoke for the association, lamented the recent upsurge in retaliatory killings in Barkin Ladi.

The protesters barricaded the road for several hours, preventing vehicular movement and holding up travellers on both sides, while denouncing the shooting at the drinking joint by unknown gunmen.

They alleged that the attack was carried out by uniformed men, who came in a Hilux van similar to those used by members of the Special Task Force, STF, maintaining security in the state.