In this piece, ACHOR ABIMAJE takes a look at last Monday carnage in Jos, the Plateau state capital, where dozens of people were killed and property worth millions of Naira destroyed and concludes that the ugly development would have been prevented if security agencies in the state were proactive.
The people of Jos will not forget last Monday in a hurry, following the bloody clash between the members of a Muslim sect, the Jama’atul Izalatu Bid’ah Wa Ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) and some youths believed to be natives and alleged owners of the parcel of land being used for the Eid prayers. Before security agents restored peace after some hours of violence no fewer than 20 lives had been lost and scores injured.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the sect members were observing the Eid-El-Fitr a day ahead of other Muslim in the country and they were on their way to the praying ground along Rukuba road, when? they discovered that the road leading to the praying ground was blocked.
Attempts by security men along the route to discourage members of the sect from advancing was resisted. However, youth who reside in the area also came out in their numbers demanding that the sect members should turn back. Within the twinkle of an eye, heavy stones started flying in all directions in the area and in the tensed atmosphere fight erupted as security men tried to dismiss the crowd.
Indeed, the misunderstanding which started at Rukuba road later spread to other areas in the state capital like Chobe? junction, Gada Biu, Kabong, Farin Gada and Anguwan Rukuba and Abattoir. The whole city of Jos was enveloped in crisis, as people were seen scampering for safety.
Within a short time, major streets like Ahmadu Bello way, Terminus and Rwang Pam were deserted. In the wake, many lives were lost and several vehicles and hundreds of motorcycles were burnt by the irate mob.
Soon afterwards, Muslim youths in other parts of the state capital on hearing what had happened along Rukuba road, quickly mobilised to move into the area.
In the process, the youth continued to set road blocks and burnt tires to protest what was happening, as soldiers and policemen were fired shots into the air to disperse the rampaging youth, with air-force helicopter hovering in the sky.
Yusuf? Kadiya,? one of the leaders of the Rukuba community? blamed the military for the crisis, noting that they perpetrated the conflict by allegedly shooting nine of their youth in Kabong village , while another eye witness who gave his name as Darlington Iro said five persons were killed on his street at Apata area of the city.
According to him, a military van allegedly loaded with soldiers stormed their area where the youth were carrying out peaceful protest and opened fire on them, which resulted in the death of five persons, while many others sustained various degrees of injury.
Chairman of medical advisory committee of Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jankwano, Mr. Stephen Lass told LEADERSHIP that three dead bodies were brought to the hospital while over fifty persons sustained various degrees of injury and were being treated, adding some of them were treated of gunshot wounds.
For the Plateau state government, the development is a set back to the peace process in the state. Mr. Abraham Yiljap, the state’s Commissioner of Information admitted that the latest round of crisis is a draw-back on the peace process in the state.
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According to him, security operatives have since been mobilized to move into the area with a view to bring the situation under control, adding that the people of the state, irrespective of tribe and religion, should go about their normal activities as the state government can no longer tolerate any act that will breach the peace.
He said that government had directed the state’s ministry of Health to supply hospitals treating those injured with drugs and other materials.
Yiljap further stressed that the state government had deployed adequate security personnel to prevent any break down of law and order during the Sallah celebration in the state.
Before the Monday clash, the sect members were at the praying ground to clear grasses? preparatory for the Monday prayer, with some members of the STF who provided security cover. In spite of the presence of the members of the STF, they met stiff resistance from the native youth in the area.
LEADERSHIP SUNDAY further gathered that the said prayer ground was originally bought by some foreigners to use as a factory. The arrangement did not work, and the portion of land is now being used as a praying ground. It was learnt that the praying ground was destroyed during the last crisis.
JIBWISS national president Sheikh Jingir at the closing of this year Ramadan Tafsir last Sunday night had stated that the new moon was sighted in Jingir, Missau, Ningi, Shira, Azare, all in Bauchi state, Maraban Guko in Nassarawa state, Samaru Zaria in Kaduna state, Maradun in Zamfara state and Mutun Biyu in Taraba state.
He had instructed that the Eid-el-Fitr prayer was to be observed the next day and hundreds of Muslims trooped to various Eid ground in Jos to observed the two raka’at? prayers.
After the crisis, the combatants from either divide are counting their losses. The national headquarters of the Jama’atul Izalatul Bid’ah Wa Ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) said it is still compiling figures of casualties of the attack on its members who went to Rukuba road Eid ground to observe the Eid-el-Fitr prayer.
The national president of JIBWIS, Sheihk Yahaya Jingir told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that the organization will soon make public the number of victims affected in the attack.
According to the national chairman, about 200 cars were burnt, “but I cannot tell how many motorcycles were affected.” According to him, at the appropriate time, the organization will seek for compensation from the government of Plateau state.
He further stressed that it is unbecoming of the government to sit and watch as some people perpetrate such acts in a country where every individual has the right to justice, adding that the people who are responsible for the attack had given prior notice of their intent.
“This is the first time in 30 years that we have been praying there and nothing happened to us, but yesterday some people surrounded us and asked us not to pray on a place that belongs to us. This is an indication that there is the need for the federal government to intervene and do something so that we can know that we have a united country that does protect everybody’s right.”
Speaking on the media report that himself and his deputy were injured in the attack, the cleric responded thus, “I am sure the rumor came from those who organized the attack. The incident happened yesterday (Monday) and you are doing this interview with me now (Tuesday), from what you are seeing and from my voice you can testify that nothing happened to me.
“But it was Allah that protected me, because I cannot tell how many bullets and stones that flew over my head during the attack and at the same time nothing happened to my deputy as speculated. You can see him sitting by my side, none of us had a scratch, it was Allah that protected us.
He further commended security agents, especially STF who helped during the attack, adding he was completely against the withdrawal of soldiers in the state.
“I am calling on the federal government and the National Assembly to scrap the state security outfit in the state called “Operation Rainbow”, because it is against the constitution of the country.”
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