When violence strikes and tragedy and mayhem descend no one is spared. Not the Hausa, or the Yoruba, or Igbo, or Biroms, Angas, Tivs or any tribe for that matter. Not the animists, the atheists, the Christians or Muslims are spared. Yet, each time there is a religious or political disagreement between the two religious groups in Jos the descent into chaos is sudden and brutal. And then what happens, the government fumbles, the culprits go scot free and the victims are left to try to heal their wounds. But with each religious riot in Jos, deep un healable scares are left and each group waits for a new opportunity for
revenge. For Jos Plateau State things have come full circle. And in a very sad way. The descent from peace to anarchy is in its closing chapter. While Jos burned, the government and security forces fiddled. The harvest of deaths arising from religious cum tribal conflicts in the last 8 years has left over six thousand dead and thousands more maimed and homeless.
The actual descent began in 2001 just about the same period the September 11 terrorist attacks on the America occurred. In Jos, Christians and Muslims have attacked each other, though the Christians have suffered the greatest casualties yet both sides suffered irreparable loses. What happened in 2001 was a signpost of things to come. Those that read the sign and had the powers to do something about it sat on their hands and played politics with the lives of millions. I knew Jos was in the throes of death.
But Jos never used to be like this. Not the killing fields that it has now become. Jos, Plateau was much beloved and blessed with rolling hills and plateaus. Its temperate weather is complimented with luscious vegetation and the production of exotic crops not found anywhere else in the country. It’s exciting terrain, sedate nature, peaceful atmosphere lured many to its foothills and mountain tops. Its mantra-Home of Peace and Tourism- was most befitting.
The attraction for Jos stretched beyond the shores of the country. America and European missionaries and experts, religious leaders and investors from Jeddah and other parts of the Arab world, and thousands from around the world were easily drawn to Jos. |
When violence strikes and tragedy and mayhem descend no one is spared. Not the Hausa, or the Yoruba, or Igbo, or Biroms, Angas, Tivs or any tribe for that matter. Not the animists, the atheists, the Christians or Muslims are spared. |
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