Jos: From Tin City to Massacre City

By Taiwo Olawale

Once again, Jos, the Plateau State capital, is up in flames. This is the second time in as many months that the town would be engulfed in deadly ethno-religious strife since the beginning of this year. The once popular tin city is fast becoming Nigeria’s riot city. But it was not always like this.

Jos used to be one of the most peaceful and tourism friendly cities in Nigeria. The city used to be the model of ethno-religious tolerance in the country. These days, however, it is becoming one of the weakest links in the country’s fragile ethno-religious balance. Though most people would trace the genesis of the problems to the April 12, 1994 riots that all but tore the Plateau State capital apart, some believe the genesis lies in the 1991 creation of Jos North Local Government Area by military President Ibrahim Babangida.

One thing that is certain, however, is that the reasons for the present crisis are traceable to the January 2010 riots. These are themselves traceable to the 2008, 2001 and 1994 riots. And, the underlying reason for all ‘the reasons’ “that may be given is that Jos is in the lethal grip of desperate ‘power mongers” who are bent on seizing control of the political future of the city.

These “power mongers” hide under religion and ethnicity to kill and maim fellow Nigerians. And, as usual with such scenarios, they have ready tools in the army of hungry and frustrated citizens living in the slums of the city. They also have co-conspirators in high places as well as in all segments of society who see what is happening as a war between “us and them.”

The First Riots
The April 12, 1994 riot was the first deadly one witnessed in Jos. The remote and immediate causes of the riots have remained the same ever since. According to the Whitepaper on the Hon. Justice J. Aribiton Fiberesima Commission of Enquiry set up to investigate the crisis, the most discernable cause of the riot was the “Recurrent friction for many years between the Berom, Anaguta, and Afizere tribes on the one hand, and the Hausa-Fulani tribes on the other hand.”

The report noted that, “Each part lays claim to Jos.  The Berom, Anaguta, and Afizere claim that they are the indisputable indigenous people of Jos, that the Hausa-Fulani are settlers, strangers, who migrated into Jos for various reasons which include commerce, employment and repair of fortune.  But the Hausa-Fulani contend that they, as owners of Jos, had had the privilege of producing the rulers of the town since way back in 1902.”
The appointment of a council boss became the tinder box that lit up the city of Jos in a 12 hour orgy of violence on the 12th of April.

Then, September 2001
An uneasy calm reigned until September 7th 2001 when violence erupted again. The same tension that existed before 1994 was the remote cause. This time round, however, the riots took a more frightening dimension as religion crept onto the agenda and the orgy of violence continued for five terrifying days.

November 2008 Riots 
The immediate cause, as in 1994, had to do with local government politics. There were disputes over council elections and for two days from November 28, Jos was on fire. Lives and properties were destroyed in the senseless orgy of violence.
January 2010
Riots broke out again on Sunday, January 17. This time around, the immediate cause arose directly from the 2008 riots. A man who had returned to rebuild his home was said to have been attacked and the madness began all over.

Now, another Riot
Just yesterday, another riot broke out. Women and children are among the casualties. In fact, a traditional ruler was quoted as saying the latest riots are evidence of man’s inhumanity to man. But, even while a federal government commission of enquiry is still trying to unravel the causes of the 2008 riots, Jos has witnessed two fresh riots.

When the dust clears after yesterday’s unrest, the remote and immediate causes would, no doubt, be traced to the same reasons identified after the 1994 riots. There would be a lot of blame-sharing and finger-pointing. But would this be the last riot? Will those who should take action do so? When would the madness on the Plateau end, soon?

Source:www.thisdayonline.com