9jalatest: Project

THE PLATEAU STATE CRISIS; A Complex Story and Situation

INTRODUCTION

The crisis in Plateau State has been seen and thought of from different perspective. No tangible claims and points from all sort of arguments in line with the crisis has proved a specific perspective guilty of the crisis. Whether it is political, religious, social or even economic is still an issue of inherent debate. Concocting all sorts of literally abstruse jargons and buhaha about who and/or what is at fault and possibly the cause of the crisis is not so difficult, but neither is it rewarding nor redeemable for the breathtaking people of this providential state with a delightful weather, luxuriant land and a generous people. For the past eleven years, this “Home of Peace and Tourism” has been torn apart and turned into a “Home of Chaos and Terrorism”. Many lives and properties have been loss without any cause and course. What is even more worrisome in the Plateau State crisis is the sophistry and complexity involved in their operational of the nature, course and consequences, which is believed, will not vintage any good upshot. This paper will however, try to deliberate the crisis taking into consideration the different realms and/or causes of the crisis, its course, and its effects on Plateau State. A good question could arouse at this point, “what about possible solutions to the crisis?” Well to clear that anxiety from my audiences’ mind, I am avoiding that aspect of the issue on ground due to some confidential reasons although I can still do it if you move me to do that through the right way and my own way. But the point must also be made clear to my audience that a critical and analytical debate on the possible solutions to the question at hand will definitely push a researcher to include and reveal so many things that will not probably, but actually and certainly pose adverse effects to the writer, and I’m not willing to give in to such at this moment in time. All said and done, read through the next paragraphs, pages and headlines of this piece of work for more incisive, educative, ..., and interesting stories you had never heard, imagine, or known. If you can’t navigate now, then visit this blog again tomorrow.

WHAT IS CRISIS?

In Nigeria today, more than seventy five percent of the populace use the word “crisis”. But do they really know what it is and what it means? I doubt. Most people have erroneously taken the word as a term which defines a period and/or season of the destruction of lives and properties. But it goes beyond that. The Oxford Advanced Learners' Dictionary, 8th ed., defines crisis as:

1. “A time of great danger, difficulty or confusion when problems must be solved or important decisions must be made”;

2. “A time when a problem, a bad situation or an illness is at its worst point”.

Similarly, the Encarta Dictionaries, Microsoft ed., defines crisis in three ways which are:

1. “A situation or period in which things are very uncertain, difficult or painful, especially a time when actions must be taken to avoid complete disaster or breakdown”;

2. “A time when something very important for the future happens or is decided”;

3. “A point in the course of a disease when the patient suddenly begins to get worse or better”.

All these definitions delineate what crisis is, taking every word the way it is. The definitions even move further to metaphorize and personify it. But in my own analysis of the word and the situations attached to and/or identified with it, Crisis is a period when situations of a place, within a place, and among the components of a place become uncertain, thereby leading to sudden decision making and taking for safeguarding a future, the accumulation, manifestation, demonstration and identification of which is also called crisis. By this conceptualization of crisis, crisis is a “one thing leading to another and the other” situation. It doesn’t come out of nothing. It happens and evolves for a given period of time. It forms the basis for planning for the future. It is complex. It is witnessed. It is reflected by series of activities. It occurs in which ever form it wants – political, social, economic, military, infrastructure, e.t.c. In short, crisis is almighty calamity.

PLATEAU STATE

Plateau State is a North Central state in Nigeria and its capital city Jos. It covers a land area of 30,913 square kilometres and it population is approximated to 3.5 million people. Its population density is 100/km2. Plateau State has its highest point at about 1,250 m (about 4,100 ft) above sea level. Its average monthly temperature ranges between 21 and 25 C. It is the coolest state in the country and serves as a cool highland resort in a setting of scenic beauty, giving it a unique geography in Nigeria. It is the twelfth largest State in Nigeria and is located almost at the middle of the country. Its capital city is Jos. Plateau State got its name from the Jos Plateau. It is surrounded by Bauchi State to the north east, Kaduna State in the north west, Nasarawa State to the south west, and Taraba State to the south east.

Plateau State has a high population which comprises people from various parts of the country, and even the world for three main factors – the good climate, tourism, and the large tin deposits which is in the state. Other factors include smith, S.M.Es., and other human activities. Tin mining activity began in 1902 under the British. When it began, feudal rulers within the country, wealthy merchants, and many other people arrived Plateau State from many places by train to invest in the business. The development of tourism centres, coupled with the natural sites of wonders and refreshment attracted people as everybody will like to see it too. Finally the good weather of the state was one that collects people and keeps them, never to let them go.

When the British government colonised Nigeria, much of Plateau State was part of Bauchi Province. In 1926, Plateau Province made up of Jos and Pankshin Divissions was carved out of Bauchi. After Nigeria gained her “independence”, in 1967, Benue and Plateau Provinces were merged together as the large Benue-Plateau State in the twelve state structure of the country. During the military reign of General Yakubu Gowan, Plateau State was created from Benue-Plateau covering the original Plateau Province in 1976 in the nineteen state structure of Nigeria. In 1996, the state was further subdivided into two and Nasarawa State was carved as its second, covering the western half of the State, by Sani Abacha.

Plateau State administration consists of the State Cabinet, the House of Assembly, and Local Government Areas. The state government is run by the by the Governor who is the cheif executive of the state affairs, Deputy Governor, Secretary to the state government, commissioners who are also the cabinet members, special advisers, permanent secretaries, board chairmen and general manager. The house of House of Assembly is made up of twenty five members and eleven special advisers. And their head is the speaker. At the Local Governments, each Local Government has a chairman who is in charge of affairs there. The chairman is al so the cheif executive and his cabinet are made up of elected councillors who make up the legislative arm. Plateau State is also divided into chiefdoms and emirates, each encompassing ethnic groups who share a common feeling of identification and belongingness either to the state, or “One Nigeria”. Leaders of the chiefdoms are often elected by the people out of many challengers who may not be related to any past chiefdom leaders, while succession to the position of an Emir (also called Ardo by the Fulanis) is hereditary. Today, Plateau State has seventeen Local Government Areas. And they are:

1. Barkin Ladi

2. Bassa

3. Bokkos

4. Jos East

5. Jos North

6. Jos South

7. Kanam

8. Kanke

9. Langtang North

10. Langtang South

11. Mangu

12. Mikang

13. Pankshin

14. Quanpan

15. Riyom

16. Shendam

17. Wase

Similarly, the state has over forty ethno linguistic groups. These groups include the following:

Afizere, Amo, Anaguta, Aten, Bache, Berom, Boggho, Buji, Challa, Chip, Doemak, Fier, Fulani, Gashish, Goemai, Irigwe, Jarawa, Jukon, Kanuri, Kofyar, Kwala, Mernya, Montol, Musher, Mupun, Mwaghu, Ngas, Piapung, Pyem, Ron-Kulere, Talet, Tarok, Kanuri, Youm.

Some of these groups have been argued not to be indigenous to the state, either logically or sophistry. But the same groups also have formidable claims of their ethno linguistic identity with the state. So, the question now is, “Are these arguments of identity necessary in a democratic Nation – Nigeria”? These ethnic groups are mostly farmers and they share some similarities in their cultures and traditions. People from other parts of the country have also come to settle in Plateau State; these include the Annang, Bini, Efik, Eggon, Ibibio, Igbo, Ijaw, Hausa, and Yoruba. Every folkloric clique have their distinct language, but the generally accepted language of the country, English is spoken and heard by almost everybody in the state, and/or at least, its forged usually called “pidgin or broken English”. As the state is located in the Northern region almost every person living in the state speaks Hausa. Despite all these, the people still believe in the superiority of their cultures which they must represent and protect.

BEAUTIFUL PLATEAU STATE; THE GALLERY

Fig. 1. A Map of Plateau State

Fig. 2. Mararaban Jama’a

Fig. 3. Jos Main Market (Terminus)

Fig. 4. An Air Craft at the Plateau State Airport, Heipang

Fig. 5. A Cultural Group Presentation (Jarawa Dancers)

FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRISIS

Blames have been pushed to political, social, economic, religious, and later military events as the causes of the crisis in Plateau State. However, all the causes of the crisis are just derived from postulations and rumours, and possibly judged by the adage which says “in every rumour lies an iota of truth”. Read through them and judge which, which, and which can actually be the actual cause or causes of the crisis, as they are all elaborated below.

Political

Politically, the crisis in Plateau State has been connected with the struggle for power in governance. According to some people, the crisis was first brought by the Muslims who want to take political control of not only Plateau State, but the entire northern Nigeria if not Nigeria completely. But to achieve that, they have to sabotage Christian leadership of any state which is of interest to them, and Plateau State being one of them has to be greatly affected. The term Christian leadership here means the heading of a political unit by a leader whose religion is Christianity. The next question is how can they sabotage Christian leadership? The only way they can do that is by bringing about anarchy, hardship and instability within the setting. A very good way of achieving that was by waging a kind of “war” against Christians. Furthermore and recently, it has been realised that a so called Holy war wants to be waged for another so called liberation of the so called Muslims – A Jihad. Poignantly and erroneously, some and most Muslims have misinterpreted the Jihad (a holy war) which is a fight against evil forces by paying heed to the five pillars of Islam, prayers and doing good (which of course are against Allah), to mean a physical fight against non worshipers of Allah. The Jihad is a must done assignment to every Muslim. Hence, all those with the flawed view of Jihad, motivated by some unscrupulous wicked and greedy separationists, and deceived and even bribed by the same cabal of fools, jumped into committing all sorts of atrocities which is not in service to Allah, but in loyalty and hypocrisy to the religious illiterates, the same cabal of fools. This of course is believed to be a major cause of the crisis in Plateau State. This has been justified by several audio and written publications of the Muslims. For example, one of their preaching during a prayer section in February, 2010 includes statements of the Imam like “wanan yaki ne zuwaga Allah domin a share duk wadanda suke gabada Shi ko kuma adinnin sa, wato musulunci kenan”, “... mulki muke so, kuma mulki zamu samu domin yantarswan bayin Allah daga bautan tallala” e.t.c. (Wa’azin Juma’a; Massalacin Juma’a, Jos, 2010). All these statements indicate tussle for power and political will from Christian leaders to and/by Muslims.

More so, it was believed that opposing parties organised series of propagandas and had youths armed with all sorts of ammunitions to crush a regime of one ruler in other to threaten him not to vie for the seat again for a second tenure, and even if possible, “do away with him” in the course of the ruthless demonstration. This view was deduced from the thuggish characteristic of Nigerian politics. This notion prevailed as the cause of the Plateau State crisis especially in the years 2001, ... when the crisis first began in earnest in recent times. Poignantly, it was strongly sustained that no other thing was thought of as the reason or possible cause for and of the crisis. In the aftermath, it gave room to more politically linked causes and roots of the crisis.

Finally, the political structure of Nigeria and to some extent the international community has so much impact as a result of the crisis in plateau state. Here, I will make reference specifically to the recognised and accepted land tenure system and the recognition of local chiefs in the state. The Fulanis are globally seen, recognised and accepted as nomads who have no specific state, location, or settlement. Hence, they are found everywhere with certain (if not all) citizenship rights and privileges. This has been the case because of the humanistic character of the world since from the 17^th and 18^th century. Once found in a place, they are allowed to leave there on the basis that in no distant time, they will still migrate as the nomads that they are. A silly situation of it in Nigeria is by the land act of 1978 which made the acquisition of land very easy in Nigeria – by first clearing of virgin land. The point I’m trying to make here is that when the nomads arrived plateau state, they realised that the state has a vast fertile land that was never in use. Hence, they cleared the virgin lands, built hamlets and minor villages, lived there for weeks, months, years, decades, and even centuries, and never left as it was thought of by many since it was a major characteristic of the Fulanis. This became a thing of concern and contributed so much in the eruption of the Plateau State crisis when the lands became lawfully theirs. Plateau State has so many local chiefs that cannot even be counted or accounted for. But how it became possible for the nomads to have settled in different places in the state, especially in the Berom lands, is one thing that cannot be explained and understood simply. The hit that broke the camel’s back here is the arrogance which most of the local chiefs grew into since the last two decades. They imprudently and by way of exploitation sold the lands to the Fulani’s and then the Fulanis sagaciously, omnisciently and slyly paid for the land (although they owned the lands by the rights of the first clearing of the virgin lands), collected legal tenders and certificate of ownership of the lands, and then, horrendously made their stay and proprietorship of land in the state formal. Out of the same arrogance, the same local chiefs sold and are still selling the same already sold lands again and again and again. What an incongruous, odious and bellicose act. Believe you me, nobody whosoever and whatsoever will ever accept that because it depicts a high state of exploitation, and when it happens, of course it will be antagonistically and/or insistently dealt with.

Are you flagged or confused? Take a breath but don’t take a break, it’s about to get very interesting few lines bellow. Read on.

Economic

The economic situation in Plateau State invited many and different people from different backgrounds to come and settle in the state. These people must survive by doing something that could fetch them some stuff of and for augmenting their lives and they therefore embarked on all sorts of work, good and bad, legal and illegal. Hence, there were farmers, traders, crafts men, robbers and some manufacturing industries and mining industries which were working effectively. This became a problem in the development process when fire arms began circulating in the hands of common people whom legally, are not suppose to handle such weapons. But it could be reasonably argued and understood that why they had to be in possession of such weapons was due to the fact that there was no adequate security of lives and property. Such insecurity was even depicted by claims that security agencies and personals were the main dealers of the ammunitions and weapons. These ammunitions and weapons were to play an important role in the crisis. They provided people with the power to control and command both lives and property. It should also be noted that other weapons used were those made for other legal economic activities. For example, knives were used to slaughter people; machetes were also used to destroy lives and properties.

Many people were involved in the “black market” business, which is the illicit selling of petrol, kerosene, potassium metal, sodium metal, e.t.c. This is not to be so much argued because of the large population of people in the state backed up by the liberalist conjecture which says “the higher the population of a place, the higher the problems and illegal activities”. Moreover, there were no other forms of occupation and employment for them. This is even a national issue. This contributed so much in the crisis especially by escalating the situation. People began manufacturing local bombs by buying these products just at their door steps without any stress.

Finally, idleness and joblessness was lavishing the lives of people in the state. All that many people could do was jump from one beer parlor to another, hoping for a benevolent offer of alcohol to keep them warm and going. This became a rubric in the people of the state. And form a single carelessness of a drunkard in speaking, created so much fear in the mind of many which led to a pre-activeness by many people. They did that by buying weapons of war to assault an opponent’s attack. Another carelessness of speech out of drunkenness resulting from devastation of joblessness, by telling the opponents that plans are on ground to attack or assault an attack. In the aftermath, this on its own path led to a pro-activeness of another group (basically the Fulanis and Muslims) who later bought their weapons and first attacked. This was so prominent in the most recent attacks and other attacks on villages which have been claiming lives and property of people (basically Christians). The point to note here is that the economic situation of the state made the state so absorbent to the rough developments.

Social

The social situation and activities of plateau State was also very favourable to the eruption of the crisis. There exist several ethnic peoples in plateau state who cannot work together for a common good. As time goes on, these people had to mix up and get into so many social interactions and interrelationships which is still characterised by their difference. This created a situation of everyman to himself and at most, every group to itself. What this situation did to the peoples of the state is that it created so much enmity, jealousy, and resentment among the people. This played an important role in the escalation of the crisis in such a manner. The people of plateau state only love and believed in a person that is only from and within their homestead, and at most, the community with every differentiation taken into consideration. This created a situation whereby a leader cannot rise for the people and/or a large group of people. In the same way, an arbiter cannot rise for the people from a particular area. When any of such comes, he is vulnerable to threats, hatred, rejection, and the menace and vices of disunity. Every family, hamlet, village, district, ward, e.t.c, wants to have his own singular and independent ruler and arbiter whom they can hear only his words. This slows down the process of decision making and it also played an important role in the crisis as treacherousness and monkey businesses cannot be easily deliberated upon and possibly resolved on time, hence, one problem leading to another in the development and continuation of the disastrous crisis. In the final analysis, there was a kind of super ordination and subordination between groups at the slightest chance when those chances were suppose to bring about corporation based on the philosophy of “all for one and one for all”.

Secondly, there was a kind of slyly differentiation created in the state by the occupants. This form of differentiation exists among two dominant groups, namely the old and aged versus the youths and young. In this relationship, the former were characterised by shrewd aristocracy while the later were characterised by abject low classiness. The few youths that are assimilated into the former group were those who are rolling in it. This is the case as they old and aged took the sovereignty and superiority of wealth, ideas, and decisions upon them. Hence, the roles of the youths were submerged even as the world goes so digital and social (modern). They neither accepted ideas and decisions nor gave the youths the chance to generate new ideas and take and/or make decisions that would be useful for societal development. They cling to their old ideas and views for the continuity of development in the state which of course could not hold as they are old, little and retired. Why their decisions and ideas cannot hold and/or operate is simply because their thinking ability is low, and the latest ones are already in practice everywhere. But, their natural wisdom is not to be doubted. The point to be noted here is that the coalition of ideas and decisions from the two classes marked by the domination of the later class would have been the best other of the day which will fix things in place as far as the state is concerned.

Thirdly, the population of the state means so much to the crisis in the state. The state is not a monopolistic populace state. Plateau State is populated by both Christians and Muslims. It is also inhabited by the native peoples of the state, Hausas, Igbos, and Yorubas, Fulanis, e.t.c. A differentiation aroused amongst these groups of people. The Hausas, Fulanis, and other converts would, had, are, and will still and always join forces to fight together as they are allied by Islam. Whereas, the others did same as there connect was Christianity. They will also fight for the support of one another, despite certain differences which persists amongst them. And so they did. But one silly thing that happened was an act by the Yorubas. Most of them were not known for a specific religion as they prayed with and like Christians and Muslims as well. What they did was that they attended meetings with both dominant parties and turned out to be “Judas” to the two parties by exposing their secrets to the “enemies”. This singular act of theirs resulted to series of actions, preparations and confrontations in the course of the crisis by one group to the other. Seemingly, the large population of the state where redundancy, paucity and impecuniousness prevails contributed in another sense to the development of the crisis. This is because the off and frivolous people will definitely fill the labour gap needed for the needed for the start and perpetuation of the crisis and/or activities that will see the crisis through.

Further more, and poignantly, the infrastructural facilities in the state also became another reason for the crisis. This is closely related to the political factor and clashes between groups to ensure hardship on the government of one person by the rival or opponent and between social groups. This was so because while economic activities were flourishing in the state, markets and roads were constructed to enable higher investment and development in the state. Poignantly, some iniquitous people thought of destroying it as the best way to trample on someone’s government. This was justified by the bombing of the Jos Main Market (which till then was the largest market in the whole of West Africa) that was patronised by both Christians and Muslims and perhaps, even Pagans. Other infrastructural facilities served as a place that attracted a very large population either on daily basis or weekly basis. Hence, the adversary saw that as a prospect to storm since they are interested in destroying lives and an attack on such places will claim them the number of lives needed. This was warranted as places like churches were attacked (and which in some cases became the beginning of a devastating clash).

Finally, the multiplicity of cultures and peoples with so many differentiations created insecurity for the people of plateau state. The peoples do not live in a well defined area. They are dispersed into small hamlets and villages. The number of villages outnumbered the number and level of security that is available. Under this arrangement, one could find a kingdom and village in a thick bush with just at least five houses. This arrangement is also characterized by a loosed political system. Hence, attacking the peoples by one group that could come together is very easy and well supported by the arrangement. In a single night attack, a village could be attacked and had lives and property destroyed. The same can also be the case in the morning. This happened consecutively. When such happens to three to five kingdoms, many lives and property will also be destroyed. Many of such villages have been destroyed in the course of the crisis in plateau state. In fact, security personals have also been killed and had their body violated in such places. But why the people live such a loosed live is due to the fact that they all had their differences which they want to protect and show case as they believe in the superiority of it. In the final analysis therefore many lives and property have been destroyed in Plateau State by this type of phenomenon as several of such villages have been attacked and destroyed.

Religious

Religion has been fervently blamed for the Plateau State crisis. There are basically two religions recognised in the state namely Christianity and Islamic religion. None of these religions supports war and/or bloodshed. They were all established for peace and on the principles of love for God (called Allah (the Hausa name for God) by the Muslims), and the love for man and humanity. Poignantly, while Christianity has been striving to strictly adhere to the aforementioned principles, Islam grew arrogant and took upon extremism. This has been the case in Africa since the 18^th century. Islamists believed in violence for achieving a near pure Islamic society and practice. They religion was misinterpreted by extreme revolutionaries who took upon violence for the “purification” of Islam from the syncretic practices that which was prevailing hither to what they believed was a Jihad. Although a war headed by the Prophet Mohammed as the protagonist was fought in the course of establishing Islam, it wasn’t a Jihad. Islam has now become a religion of pugnaciousness and viciousness, on that wants no concord and serenity in any society.

The Jihad in its real sense means paying heed to the five pillars of Islam, as propounded by the Prophet Mohammed through the intervention of the angel of Allah. How people now changed the Jihad to a bloody battle is still a subject of debate. But, it should be noted that these extreme faction worked for Muslims in pre-colonial and pre-independent Africa. This was because the areas it affected were practicing monotheism. In that arrangement, the Islamic societies were oppressive, feudal and lawless. So when people like Usman Dan Fodio, Shehu El Kanemi and Seku Ahmadu seized the prevailing socioeconomic and political order by dynamism and cogency, they gained so much support and were able to defeat the aristocratic leaders and “non believers” of Allah by series of bloody clashes which saw the dead of multitudes of people. In the aftermath of the war, they were able to create a better society were the dominant philosophy “all for one, one for all”, became the order of the day. Every citizen exists and operates in his sense of belongingness to and in the society. All the Muslims that survived the wars enjoyed their consequences. Hence, the Jihad which was a spiritual holy war between the forces of evil and the people of Allah by standing by the five pillars of Islam was gradually seen as a physical holy war between “believers” and “non believers” of Allah. In this connection, the believers are dominantly Muslims who will do anything they are asked to do by their fellow Muslim leaders and in so doing, become treacherous to anyone who is not a Muslim. The non believers on the other hand include anybody who will not take any form of word and advice from anybody, but depend solely on his views of the words of the Koran and any other person who is not in the practice of Islam. This created a great disconnect and disunity between the people living in a society dominated by Islamists.

In the 1970s, an organization was founded with the leadership bestowed on the famous Islamist, Colonel Muamar Ghadafi of late momories, of Libya. This organisation is the Organization of Islamic Countries commonly referred to as O.I.C. This organization set out to “liberate” all Muslims in any country where Islam is practiced in Africa. This organization was so biased as nobody can tell or logically explain what they organization is liberating Muslims from. Secondly, it brought an agenda of islamising some African countries where Nigeria is one of them. However, they never revealed when and how to go about it. Taking the population, socioeconomic and political situation of Plateau State, waging a war against “unbelievers” would be a good move and a better starting point for destroying Nigeria and handling it over to Muslims. Secondly, seizing political seats from Christians to Muslims in plateau State will also be a good move towards achieving the goals of the organization. Thirdly, all this would be achieved by force if not by law. This led to bringing all sorts or vulnerable claims about Plateau State.

The Jihad to be waged in Nigeria as planned by the O.I.C. saw the distribution of weapons of war against Christians in the country. The erroneous believe that has been slyly forced into the minds of Muslims that killing anybody or dying in the course of the jihad will assure Aljanar Allah to the soul of the person, motivated them into going into the battles foolishly and sheepishly. Whether they die or survive after the war was not their problem since they were paving their way to paradise, by fighting the enemies of God. This was supposed to be the case for the ingenuous Jihad. The contribution of the Organization of Islamic Countries in the Jos crisis is so enormous. They stanchion the crisis by sending money, ammunitions, mercenaries and literary materials who and which will always support any attack on Christians in the state. The money the organization sends is to be used for bribing anybody that was ready to betray the passive coexistence in the state, join forces with them to fight, work hand in hand with them to see that the war is fought and perhaps even won by them. The mercenaries were to help join forces with them to fight the Jihad. The ammunitions of course were to be drastically used against “the enemies” of Allah. The literary materials were for propagandanism. They were to be used to promote and encourage fighting against non-Muslims. This was exactly what happened in advance and in the course of the crises.

On the other hand, Christians believed so much in the ethics of their religion. The same is the case in Plateau State. This most singular character of Christians has also promoted the crisis. It fact, some devastated critics even believed it is one of the main causes of the crisis. Christians believed so much in peace, love and forgiveness. They know no bloodshed. They believe and trust in the Word of God, “thou shall not kill”. They believe “the earth is the Lord’s and everything thereof”. As such, they don’t kill (hardly do they do that). These same cheated Christians try as much as possible to love their neighbours and even their enemies and try to live in peace and harmony with each other and everybody. They will always hand everything over to God and leave the situation in His hands for Him to take proceedings. What all this values did to them is that it “deluded” them not to get their selves armed and prepared beforehand.

The battle line set by religion here is in the theme of light and darkness. Religion and philosophers of religion contend that this two cannot meet and stay together. There is no coherence whatsoever between them. They are worst of enemies. Religion defines and identifies darkness to and as evil, which is related and connected to the devil and his agents who are God’s enemies. Light on the other hand stands for goodness, God and his followers too. God is not living with the devil and so should his followers too. Good and evil are always distinguishable. And darkness is not a matter of discussion in every human society. This also brings us to a very big question, “who is the light and who is the darkness”? it has been resolved by theology that the darkness will be defeated after which an era of light will prevail and the good people will stay and enjoy it. Muslims have their darkness defined in the manner that will encourage them fight and kill people restlessly in the name of fighting for Allah. Some Christians have also taken their standing point on darkness as well but will only wait for God’s judgment to prevail. In the final analysis therefore, the connection of some issues leads to reactions that could be easily carried out by people to punish others for no reason.

The aggregate and accumulation of all these, possibly is what led to the crisis. It should also to be noted at this point that crisis occurs in every human society. But how it is managed for some serenity to be achieved is what distinguishes one area’s to the others. Perhaps, Plateau State’s was not well managed or was not even managed at all. And of course, it led to what you will hear as you see and read what I have for you below.

Are you bored or flagged? Huh! Blink your eye, stretch your hands and legs, then take a minute or two to think of what you’ve read, create a picture of Plateau State n imagine how the crisis is like in your mind then come out of that phantasm to reality. If you’ve done that, then smile as you read the “sweet” stories below.

THE COURSE OF THE CRISIS

This part of this paper will only take some major events within the ambience of the crisis. They will come with their dates and give a clean gist of how they happened. However, it will start from the year 2001, where since then; peace was never restored in the state.

In year 2001, and specifically 7th September, 2007 and in the afternoon for that matter, a bloody clash broke out between Christians and Muslims in the major and capital city of Plateau State, Jos. Rumours had it that the clash came about at the beheading of a Christian woman by the Muslims at Masalacin Juma’a as she passed along the road where the Muslims were praying. Whether her offence was greater than that or just that is what no one could tell. After that did by the Muslims, some Christians who saw what happened raise an alert. Following the weak security activities in the state, it escalated to a warlike event. Before long, people began running up and down and helter scatter for protection, self defence, and even vengeance. Sooner than later, gunshots were heard almost from every settlement within the city. Loud shouts of cry was also hear everywhere and dark black smoke was also seen all over the sky of Jos. While Muslims were running from Christian dominated settlements like Gada Biyu, Nasarawa Gwom, e.t.c., Christians were also running from Muslim dominated settlements like Agwan Rogo, Naraguta, e.t.c. All this happened within a flash, marked by killings of members of one group by the members of another. Whosoever ... victim was just to leave the surface of the earth. In less than five minutes, a near the same was also the case in Bukuru metropolitan area of Plateau State. And so it continued spreading in many other places in the state. News also reported various numbers of dead bodies found in the course of the crisis. When soldiers were deployed to rescue the situation, it calmed down only for a second or two in one settlement to escalate for some three to five minutes in the other. This continues immensely for ten good days, marking 7th to 17th September, 2001 in history as the beginning of a new dawn of crisis which will continue up to the next years where no one could tell or even guess when and how it would end. During this, many houses, mosques and churches were damaged, destroyed or burned to the ground. Torched cars were left along the streets after the clashes between Christians and Muslims. Property and even human beings were set on fire also. Three churches of the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) were burned. Three major hospitals suggested that their government increased casualty figures by hundreds. The clash ended on September 17, 2001, when Nigeria's president, Olusegun Obasanjo, lamented the violence between the Muslims and Christians. Local sources see the introduction of military intervention and strictly enforced curfews as the major contributor to the end of the clashes. Because of the large number of people involved who were killed in the clashes, a mass burial had to be arranged as said by Mortuary attendants from Jos University Teaching Hospital and Plateau State Specialist Hospital.

Following the destruction of property in the course of the crisis, many people left the various cities to their native settlements. But before then, Fulanis in those villages were already fighting with the natives of the settlements. So, there was no actually safe place for people. The Fulani-Natives clash occurs in series of small attacks which claimed come lives and chattels. The Fulanis began fighting with the Natives because former believed the Muslims are their brothers while the later were Christians. Hence, they had a legitimate connection in the conflict. These attacks still persist up till now. Before long, the ridiculous imprudent Fulanis began destroying crops of the natives and/or Christian in their farm lands. In short, they became termites, insect pests to the state everywhere they could be found. Following the foolhardiness of the Muslims and Fullanis, marked by their ineptness and unprofessionalness in fracas, they were they were tremendously expelled from places like Langtang, Heipang, Gyel, e.t.c. It should be noted that before their oust they were terrifically and magnificently dealt with by some parochial home-grown prestidigitators like Habibu of Heipang, Baban Biyu of Langtang, e.t.c.

Consequently, food supply became very low in the state. This was the case for foodstuff like vegetables. Poverty did not actually increase. But many shops, businesses and S.M.Es collapsed. More arms and ammunitions were then pumped into the State by the military, the Organization of Islamic Countries, and local fabricators. The buyers, keepers and obtainers of these weapons did whatever they did to keep something in preparation for the next possible clash. And poignantly, shockingly and heartbrokenly, the Jos Main Market, the biggest market in West Africa was bombed in 2002. This claimed million of Naira and goods worth billions of Naira, and that led to more death and hardship in the state. The debris of the structure still stands there at the very middle of the city with hopes for a miracle that might raise its fallen statues, structure and glory. The clashes between Muslims and Christians had never stopped. It only takes a kind of break. And since after the 2002, it took a long break where propagandanism and pre-actions for another clash became the game for the break, and by November 2008, it resumed again.

When it came into being again in 2008, it rose up as a result of the election result for Jos North L.G.A. which was not won by a Muslim candidate. This made Muslims within Jos North to start killing Christians and burning down properties and structures owned by Christian by way of demonstration. But in places where Christians took dominance since 2001, they former got it worst. The Christians in Jos South, realising how much harm had been done on their fellow Christians in Jos North also took vengeance and began doing same to the Muslims in their domain. This saw a bloody clash that led to the celebration of both the December 25th Christmas, 26th December Boxing Day, and the 1st January 2009 New Year day in fear of possible disastrous occurrences.

As people rekindle the spirit of humanity and the resurrection of a spirit that was almost killed some years ago on 17th January 2010, Nigeria’s version of such which is the Jos crisis rekindles nothing but nightmare. That year marks a decade and two of the festering ethno-religious crisis in the once-peaceful Plateau State. On that fateful September 7, 2001, crisis, which sociologists, political scientists and other egg-heads agree are unavoidable within society but without necessarily resulting in violence if well handled, assumed the dimension of a ‘war’. The indigene-settler problem in Jos North Local Government Area where the Muslim/ Hausa/Fulani population has been demanding to be given “indigene” status and which has been a source of tension and past skirmishes, boiled over and assumed an ethno-religious dimension resulting in blood-letting and destruction of property never witnessed in the state since perhaps the pogrom against the Igbo at the start of the Nigerian Civil War in 1967. Since then, Plateau State has not known peace and the cost in human, material and other losses continue to escalate. What would have been a fitting celebration of the ‘anniversary’ in terms of counting the gains made in the area of reconciliation and reintegration and maybe popping drinks to herald how far the people have moved away from the dark alley turned out to be another period of mourning. Rather than counting the bags of rice, cartons of drinks and the number of chickens that have gone into celebrating the cementing of relationships and the development it has brought, what is being counted are corpses, looted or burnt property, lost limbs or arms and other negatives. Just like a drama and a replicant of the year 2001 in 2010 – “just the repositioning of digits and same was the case for lives, property, currencies, e.t.c. “Hell no! This can’t and shouldn’t continue” is all good minds hold and can’t speak out.

The attacks on villages allegedly by the Fulani believed to be on a revenge mission arising from their losses in previous violence which had stopped for a while resumed three weeks to the anniversary. Villages around the state capital were raided in commando-like operations by heavily-armed people, leaving many dead and injured settlers’ casualties. The serial nature of the latest attacks which seem targeted at wiping out families is generating a lot of concern among the people. From Loton and Kwi in Riyom Local Government Area to Heipang and Tatu in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area to Dabwak in Jos South and Zallaki-Babale in Jos North, it was the same story. The assailants strike, shooting, hacking down their victims while deep asleep, leaving, as Fela Anikulapo-Kuti sang, “sorrow, tears and blood as their trademark”. Come and see the corpses buried after the attack, and you will likely bet your life that the devil exists in human form carrying out mayhem and murder, a conquest to win him some gain. But the Christians would not avenge anything. Perhaps because they do not know which sect, village, or group of people did that, (although it was believed that it was of course, the Fulanis and some Muslims with the help of some soldiers), or maybe because they simply want to leave vengeance for God and do what humans must do for peace to reign (after all, war is settled on the table with words and not on the field with ammunitions). In the aftermath of this very incidence, a strong violence was never heard of or seen. All that persisted were rumours of assassinations of “one man, one woman, that boy, the girl, an old woman, ...” and the discovery of their missen body-corpse, or never seen again. And just when the thought of peace coming back to the plateau, the state capital was equally thrown into fresh turmoil on Monday, August 29, when the Izala Muslim Sect which marked their own Eid-el-Fitri a day earlier than other Muslims decided to resume the use of an abandoned prayer ground in a Christian – dominated area turned violent.

It again resulted in colossal loss in human and material terms. The deep-seated animosities created by the cycle of violence were re-opened leaving many to wonder if the situation would ever get better. Many oral sources said this particular eruption of the crisis came as a result of an anger in the minds of Christian youths over the loses they had suffered. They further stated that they Muslims were warned not to touch or do anything to that land by the Christian youths. But they Muslims refused and went on to make the piece of land with the aim of praying there and using it. What with the seeming helplessness of government and security agencies to tackle the situation. After several inquiries into the crisis by the state and federal governments, both do not seem to have been able to find a way out of the problem. The reports of the enquiries are more famous for not seeing the light of day despite promises to implement them. Similarly, the security agencies do not seem to have answers to how to end the crisis in Jos. But they should, if actually they are security agencies – who are to protect lives and property.

The much- expected “magic” from the deployment of soldiers in place of policemen has proved unrealistic as the Special Task Force (STF) put in place by the Federal Government to tackle the situation has not succeeded in their ‘task’. Worse is the growing accusation that soldiers have become engrossed in the crisis by taking sides. Stories of how soldiers watch unconcerned when people are killed, maimed or property looted abound. In almost all the attacks on villages are allegations of the involvement of soldiers, a situation which has done much damage to their credibility. And there has often been hearsay proofs to such allegations. Despite denials by STF’ spokesman, Captain Charles Ekeocha, that soldiers as professionals deployed to protect the people and restore peace could not be involved in such activities, the accusations have refused to go. Hence 10 years on, peace has eluded Plateau State which was once acclaimed as a home of peace and tourism. The grimness of the situation was captured in positive SMS messages sent around by some concerned people on the 10th anniversary. One of the messages read: “Fellow Nigerians and residents of Jos. This September 7 marks 10 years of the Jos crisis. Ten years of innocent people dying; 10 years of loss of property; 10 years of living in fear! How much more! Spread the word. Let our lives go back to normal; let our homes be safe; let our children go back to school; our traders go back to their shops; our husbands and wives go back to their work. Let good prevail over evil. Enough is enough!”A concerned citizen and activist, Mallam Sadiq Sumbellep, added a unique dimension to the appeal for the return of peace by embarking on a hunger strike on September 7, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the crisis. He told Sunday Vanguard that he was pained that rather than improve, the situation was worsening.

“The crisis started exactly 10 years ago. At that time, people were using stones and sticks to fight, but now we have graduated into using sophisticated weapons and bombs to kill ourselves. The crisis has continued because government has not taken any action to address the underlining causes. All the reports of the commissions set up to look into the crisis remain unimplemented. The youths from both sides are made to destroy themselves. “So, I’m embarking on this one day hunger strike to show my displeasure over the inability of our leaders to bring the crisis in Jos to an end after 10 years. I am calling on our leaders to be more serious about this problem. If we create employment opportunities for our youths, this crisis will reduce. Many of them lack what to do and that is why they are easy tools for violence. Where would will be in the next 10 years if we cannot solve this problem”, he said. Member representing, Jos East/Jos South Constituency in the House of Representatives, Bitrus Kaze, has also joined in condemning the fresh outbreak of violence. He said in a statement that the return of violence was a cause for concern, especially the alleged connivance of members of STF in the wave of attacks on villages.

Said Kaze: “I join many peace loving citizens in condemning the return of terrorism on the Plateau by faceless but known killers. I deeply sympathize with relations of the families that were wiped out and several others who sustained serious injuries. As always, the recurrent eye witness accounts in virtually all scenes of these heinous crimes is the nagging allegation of complicity by operatives of the STF operatives. “It is the height of irresponsibility for the STF to attempt to excuse their failure to protect tax payers whose blood and taxes they are milking. Nothing smacks of complicity than that STF chose to withdraw at a time when serious complains against them have triggered an investigation by the Army headquarters Abuja, the outcome of which is still being awaited. The unilateral withdrawal of STF from villages where our people have sufficiently traced their insignia to the scene of crime severely injures what remains of their integrity. “If the STF cannot account for the ethnic cleansing in Heipang, what explanation do they have for the simultaneous killings in Kuru, Babale and Foron where innocent women and children under their watch were mercilessly hacked down? The dereliction of duty by STF has made a mockery of the millions of Naira they sap from Plateau State coffers, protection of lives and properties is the duty of security agencies anywhere in the world, it is not a favour.

While the exposure of their complicity may explain the anger of STF, the large amounts of sophisticated weapons moved into the house of one Fulani man alone in Mahangar village as beamed on NTA network news indicts them enough. The upsurge in calls for the withdrawal of the Military by key stakeholders on the Plateau cannot be baseless.” “I cannot agree less with the State government for encouraging communities to evolve a means of protecting their lives and properties. The United Nations charter for human rights recognizes the right to self defence, every household must fashion a means of self defence in the face of unwarranted killings. No matter the numerical strength of security forces they will never be available enough for posting to individual parlours, bedrooms, kitchens and backyards. “Each man must become the Commander In Chief, the Director of State Security Services, the General Officer Commanding and the Inspector General and the Task Force Commander of his family. We must never kill but equally we must never allow anyone continue to kill us like a chicken. On this 10th anniversary of the Sept 7th 2001 crisis in Jos, President Goodluck Jonathan must live up to his campaign promises by providing adequate security to lives and properties on the Plateau.” While the concerns, accusations, condemnations or even lamentations continue, victims of the violence continue to suffer in silence with nobody seeming to have an answer to the problem. But many agree that governments at various levels must go beyond thinking that the problem would solve itself and device strategies that would bring to an end the barbarism that has enveloped Jos in the past 10 years.

Many are like Sumbellep wondering what the state would be like in the next 10 years if nothing is done to tackle the monster of violence.

UGLY PLATEAU STATE CRISIS; THE GALLERY

Fig. 6.