OVER VIEW OF RECENT CRISIS IN JOS

OVER VIEW OF RECENT CRISIS IN JOS

Executive summary

Over the last decade, the civil crisis over ‘indigene’ rights and political representation in Jos, capital of Plateau State, has developed into a protracted communal conflict affecting most parts of the state. At least 4,000 and possibly as many as 7,000 people have been killed since late 2001, when the first major riot broke out in Jos in more than three decades

Ten years later, only the heavy presence of military and police forces ensures a fragile calm in the city. Tensions between ethnic groups rooted in allocation of resources, electoral competition, fears of religious domination, and contested land rights have amalgamated into an explosive mix. The presence of well organized armed groups in rural areas, the proliferation of weapons, and the sharp rise in gun fatalities within Jos all point to the real risk of future large-scale violence.

This report seeks to examine the most recent civil crises in Jos, identifying it causes and making recommendations to ensure peace co-existence in Jos.

 INTRODUCTION

Crisis is any event that is or is expected to lead to an unstable and dangerous situation affecting an individual, group community, or whole society. Crisis are deem to be negative changes of the security, economic, political, societal or environmental affairs especially when they occur abruptly, with little or no warning.

Jos is the capital of Plateau State, in the middle of the divide between the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria and the predominately Christian south. Since 2001, the area has been plagued by violence motivated by multiple factors.

The constant civil / political crises in Jos have become a subject of several editorials. Competing and conflicting interpretations of what make up Jos have contributed immensely to the prevalence of conflict being witnessed. The history of Jos before, during and after colonial rule and the underlying assumptions to its claims by various stake holders has not contributed to the peace that is desired in Jos Plateau. These claims and historical interpretations form the justification for the claims made by the primary parties to the conflict in both its traditional and modern form. The quest for prominence over each other has not also helped matters. Perceptions are believed to be a major source of conflict in any given situation, hence this report tries to bring to light the recent crises experienced in Jos the state capital of Plateau and its local government and villages.

RECENT CRISIS IN JOS PLATEAU STATE

Since 2010 till July 2015 several series of crises have erupted in the town of Jos the state capital and is environs. Examples of crises are; 2010 Jos riots, massive killing (20 people) killed in Ganawuri District of Riyom, attack on a village by Fulani herdsman,  254 killed in Birom/Fulani clash,  30 persons  killed in attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen in two villages in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

2010 JOS RIOTS

The 2010 Jos riots were clashes between Muslim and Christian ethnic groups in central Nigeria in and near the city of Jos. The clashes have been characterised as " religious violence " by many news sources, although others cite ethnic and economic differences as the root of the violence. The first spate of violence of 2010 started on 17 January in Jos and spread to surrounding communities. Houses, churches, mosques and vehicles were set ablaze, during at least four days of fighting. At least 326 people, and possibly more than a thousand, were killed.

MASSIVE KILLING (20 PEOPLE) KILLED IN GANAWURI DISTRICT OF RIYOM,

Yet again, about 20 people have been confirmed dead in an overnight attack on Attakar village of Ganawuri District of Riyom Local Government Council of Plateau State.

The latest mayhem is coming barely two days after 35 persons were similarly killed in Wase Local Government Council area of the state following a clash between the native Taroh and Fulani herdsmen.

Like in Wase, the clash in Ganawuri was between the natives and Fulani herdsmen. It is believes the Fulani militia took advantage of the absence of security men to attack and burn houses in the village.

ATTACK ON A VILLAGE BY FULANI HERDSMAN, 

Nigerian Pilot recent (2015) reports that the Fulani gunmen stormed Berom in Barkin Ladi local government area of the state and killed seven people from same family, while others were killed in a nearby village.

It is understood that the killings took place in an attack and counterattack between Fulani and Berom people, after two Fulani travellers were killed on Sunday by a Berom mob which was protesting the release of detained armed youths by the Special Task Force (STF), deployed to restore law and order in the state.

In retaliation, the Fulani allegedly killed the family of seven on Monday. Confirming the incident to newsmen, the state chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Haruna Boro Hussaini, said a Fulani woman and her co-travellers were attacked and killed by a Berom mob on Sunday. He said some soldiers had attacked and burnt down seven Fulani settlements in Luggere Shaw of Barkin Ladi Council.

254 KILLED IN BIROM/FULANI CLASH, 

No fewer than 254 persons were killed within the pace of three months in the feud between Fualini and Berom in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government areas of Plateau State.

The CAN chairman, who led a delegation to the offices of law enforcement agencies, including the Army, Special Task Force on Security and the police to seek their cooperation on the protracted problems, which had been going on unabated, said it had become imperative for security agents operating in the state to put their heads together to find lasting solution to the problem. Speaking at the office of the state Commissioner of Police Nasiru Oki, the CAN chairman said the Christian leaders had met on the situation and felt that the best way to solve the crisis was to visit the security agents to express their concern over the situation.

CAUSES OF SEVERAL CRISES IN JOS

The following are the major causes of crises in Jos and it’s environs:

§  Competing historical interpretations and political claims

§  The creation of Jos North LGA

§  Citizenship and indigene rights

§  Rural land conflicts

§  The regional dimension of the Jos crisis

§  The religious dimension

EFFECTS OF  JOS CRISES

Site of crisis is not some thing to behold and desired because the human and material cost of the violence is immense. Hundreds if not thousands of lives have lost and properties worth billions of naira have also be destroyed in Jos as a result of civil crises which has become a common scenarios in Jos since 2000s.  several number of internally displaced people since 2001 peaked in 2004, with up to 220,000 people displaced (IRIN, 2005). After the 2008 riot, more than 10,000 were displaced, while violence in 2010 resulted in about 18,000 people fleeing the clashes (IRIN,2010). Numerous houses in Jos have been burned and blackened remnants litter the streets in many parts of the city. All sides suffer a massive loss due to livelihoods destroyed. Violence and displacement have reshaped Jos and many rural settlements. As neighbourhoods become religiously segregated, ‘no-go areas’ alter patterns of residency, business, transportation, and trade.

CONCLUSION

The peaceful resolution of conflicts and differences through a non violent approach is advocated. It is believe that no matter how poor or oppressed a society is, or how provocative and manipulative political or religious leaders may be, violence does not erupt suddenly. Inevitably, we believe that it is the manifestation of accumulated aggression and hostility that often sparks conflicts and crisis in Jos. In order to prevent violence, it is necessary then to address the hostile mistrust and belligerence before it reaches a point where each side believes that violence is their only recourse. Preventive strategies that can bring about peace must be developed. The goal of prevention is to create a situation in which differences and conflicts can be addressed in a non-violent and constructive manner. It is encouraged that round table discussions by stake holders in order to ensure we have a stable State should be ensured.

REFERENCES

ACLED (Armed Conflict Location and Events Dataset). n.d. Website.http://www.acleddata.com/

AllAfrica. 2002. ‘Nigeria: Cleric Blames Plateau Crisis on Elders’ Selfish Political Interests.’ 22 July. <http://allafrica.com/

stories/200207220216.html>

Blench, Roger. 2004. ‘Improving the Knowledge

Base on Small Arms in Northern and Central Nigeria.’ Unpublished paper prepared for the UK Department for

International Development, Nigeria. Golwa, Joseph H.P. and Ochinya O. Ojiji, eds. 2008. Dialogue on Citizenship in Nigeria.

Abuja: Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution.

Daily Trust, 8 November 2010  Ahmed Mohammed and Mahmud Lalo (11 March 2010). "Jos - Police, Govt Disagree Over Casualty

Daily Trust. Retrieved 6 May 2015.  "Nigeria religious clashes 'kill 500' near Jos".

BBC. 8 March 2010. Archived from the original on 9 March 2010. Retrieved 8

ICC is Analysing Jos Crisis, Says Prosecutor, March 2015.