Taye Obateru
18 September 2002
Jos — A total of 915 lives and property worth over N3.3 billion were lost to the September 7, 2001 ethno-religious uprising in Plateau state, the commission of enquiry on the crisis has said.
Submitting the commission's report to Governor Joshua Dariye yesterday, its chairman, Justice Niki Tobi, JSC, said the figures were arrived at based on evidence adduced before the commission.
He regretted that the crisis and the subsequent ones had slowed down the socio-economic development of the state, stressing the need for everyone to work for a complete return of normalcy.
"Since September 2001 to date, the state has not enjoyed peace. There are troubles and skirmishes all over the state and this is not in the interest of the economic, social and cultural development of the people.
"I am appealing to all good men and women in Plateau to reject trouble, instability and crisis and embrace peace and tranquility," he stated.
However, Justice Tobi noted that the problem of the ownership of Jos and the indigeneship issue were central to the resolution of the differences among the people of the state capital, hence the commission dealt with it in its report. According to him, "one major problem the commission identified was the problem of ownership of Jos and the concomitant issue of indigeneship.
"We have dealt with the issue of ownership. Unless the people of Jos recognise the ownership of Jos as recommended by the commission, there will be no end to crisis in Jos in particular, and the state in general."
The chairman warned against any leakage of parts of the report before government's white paper on it was released, saying: "I foresee some problem if the report is leaked in part before the white paper."
Receiving the commission's five-volume report, Governor Dariye assured that the recommendations would be implemented, allaying the fears expressed about the report going the way of similar psst reports that were not implemented. He described the extent of loss in lives and property from the crisis as devastating and as a cause for concern.
He stressed the need for the people to allow the messages contained in the commission's 19-point recommendations to sink in their minds, so that the past could be put behind.
"Our mission now is to emphasize the need for forgiveness, tolerance and understanding among our people. This is the thrust of my message and the plank of our hope for meaningful reconciliation and lasting peace," the governor stated.
Expressing commitment to doing whatever was necessary to restore peace to the state, he urged the people to be prepared to make sacrifices in the interest of the state.
The Niki Tobi commission which was inaugurated on October 18 last year ended its public sitting on May 30.
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