Jos, the Plateau State capital, has witnessed sectarian violence for over a decade.
And it has put the state on local and international headlines, for all the wrong reasons.
The widely acclaimed “Home of Peace and Tourism”, had its peace punctured by series of ethno-religious unrest. It has led to wanton destruction of lives and property.
Houses and worship places were torched and razed down to the ground.
Innocent people were hounded, hacked to death or maimed on account of belonging to a particular faith.
The antics and tactics always employed by the arsonists’, rioters and mercenaries during the Jos crisis, had suggested that the skirmishes have some religious undertones.
Ever since the eruption of violence in the city, the federal, state and other relevant security agencies, have put in great effort to ensure that peace and the spirit of brotherhood that was once the hallmark of the state is restored.
Religious bodies, civil society groups, as well as public spirited personalities, have also been actively involved in bringing back the lost glory of the State.
However, last week’s killing has now triggered what has lasted days now. All started at the Rukuba road community on Thursday night, in Jos North LGA, where over a dozen persons were killed by unknown gunmen – in some quarters alleged to be Fulani herdsmen.
They were said to have attacked residents of the community, to avenge the killing of five of their people, who were allegedly murdered and buried in shallow graves.
But the President of the Irigwe Development Association, Sunday Abdu, denied the claims, saying no corpses were presented as evidence.
Abdu also stated that no right thinking person will condone criminality.
The military personnel were drafted in to quell the situation, but the youths of the community reportedly destroyed a police station among others.
It is gathered that the youths in the area were angry with security operatives for not responding promptly.
There were allegations of indiscriminate shooting of residents by military personnel, who were despatched to restore normalcy to the troubled community. There is no official casualty figure, but reports have it that several persons were shot. Two were said to have lost their lives, while others were injured from gunshots.
On that same Friday, schools had to close before their usual hours, as tension mounted in Jos and environs. There was also pandemonium among the citizenry.
A dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed by the State Government on Jos North and Jos South LGAs, but was relaxed 24 hours later.
However, as the gubernatorial primary elections were ongoing for both the ruling APC and the opposition PDP on Sunday afternoon, residents in parts of Jos North LGA raised an alarm claiming that some men in unidentified military uniforms, had led some hoodlums to attack them and burn their houses.
The uniform men believed to be fake army personnel, are said to have taken over major streets in Dutse Ukwu, Tina Junction, Rikkos, Angwan Rukuba and Univeristy of Jos village and Naraguta hostels, all in Jos North LGA.
These aforementioned areas have been under indefinite curfew since Sunday, imposed by the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Undie Udie, who ordered residents to remain indoors.
Udie also ordered a joint operation of the police and army in the areas, to quell the unrest that broke out Sunday afternoon.
The suspected fake soldiers are however believed to have taken advantage of the directive and the accompanying curfew, to lead youths alleged to be muslims, to burn churches and houses belonging to Christians, in addition to killing those in sight.
On Sunday, a student of the University of Jos was killed in Naraguta hostel. This incident was confirmed by the school’s authority.
Police and military authorities have not responded to queries sent to them on the matter, but as at 6pm on Monday, military patrol vans and motorbikes believed to be used by the fake army men to clear the way for the violent attackers, were still seen patrolling the communities.
According to a resident of Yan Trailer, “I went to find a way of taking my kids out of the area, what I saw baffled me. People who came for ‘peace talk’ tricked our boys to be shot.
“I left my house since Sunday morning and couldn’t return till this morning (Monday). I had to trek from British to my house at Yan Trailer. What I met at home was not funny. Since morning to about 8pm. Right now, we’re still keeping vigil here and you think it is a matter to joke with.”
However, the story of the presence of ‘fake’ soldiers, is another issue that has brought the army under trial in the court of public opinion. The military should ensure it comes out clean, because if this allegation goes unchecked, it will leave the military with an integrity problem.
Once again, calls have began pouring out for the removal of the army from the city, to prevent fake personnel from taking advantage of military operations to unleash mayhem on unsuspecting communities.
However, the million-dollar question is: when will the killings stop?
When will the people of the once city prided to be the “Home of Peace and Tourism”, return to its old self?
I believe if there is justice and perpetrators of violence are brought to face the full wrath of the law and the military personnel stop choosing sides or stopped being apolitical, the people will learn to live in peace and respect each others culture and religion.
Regrettably, the military which carries the onerous burden of enforcing security, has been caught in the web of credibilty, leaving residents with the option of subscribing to the awkward doctrine of “everyone to himself and God for all”.
However, an army source admitted that the military is a product of the society. Therefore, it is a reflection of the society.
There is no point being antagonistic to the military. Because within it, you find Christians, Muslims, pagans, etc. Targeting and killing specific people on the grounds of religion or ethnicity will be killing one’s brothers and sisters.
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