The religious crisis in Jos, Plateau State, snowballed to alarming proportions yesterday, leading the Vice-President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to order a deployment of troops into parts of the state to forestall further bloodbath.
The state governor, Mr. Jonah David Jang, also imposed a 24-hour curfew which the state Commissioner of Information, Mr. Greg Nyelong, said was meant to nip in the bud the spread of the crisis.
Both the federal and the state governments have also vowed to fish out perpetrators of the sectarian violence that is said to have claimed nearly 200 lives.
Jonathan has also directed the nation's top security chiefs to immediately relocate to Jos to ascertain the true situation there in order to avoid reliance on misleading security information, the National Security Adviser, Major-General Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar (rtd) said.
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Mukhtar, who was in company of the Minister of Interior, Dr. Shettima Mustapha, told State House correspondents yesterday that the Federal Government was disturbed about the conflicting reports and ordered the inspector-general of police and the director-general of the State Security Service (SSS), as well as their officers, to move to Jos to contain the situation through close monitoring.
According to Mukhtar, "As at yesterday, the situation seemed to have normalised, but for reasons we can't explain yet, but which we are going to find out now, the VP has directed that the IGP, the director of operation of the SSS, and other officers connected with the situation should immediately move to Jos, assess the situation and return.
"There have been very conflicting reports from different media and different sources and to have a clear picture we have to send the team, so any statement I am going to make now will be presumptuous. Let them come back and we will have a fair assessment of the situation that will form the basis of the statement we are going to make. At the moment the military had moved in in concert with the police to normalise the situation."
The crisis first erupted on Sunday in Nasarawa Gwong, a suburb of the city. Over 26 persons were killed on that day when fighting broke out between Christians and Muslims.
The early morning violence was brought under control by the state government, which imposed a dusk to dawn curfew.
The violence escalated yesterday when some armed persons reportedly stormed the city in defiance of the curfew.
Virtually all activities in the city ground to a halt yesterday. Residents woke up to see smoke billowing all over the city.
The violence spread to areas that never witnessed such violence in previous crises like Bukuru, Dadin Kowa, Rusau, Mai Adiko, Bukuru Park, Bauchi Road and Tudun Wada.
Sporadic gunshots were heard from those areas.
Governor Jang also alerted of the involvement of fake soldiers and policemen who disguised themselves to launch offensive attacks on innocent citizens during the crisis.
Presidency sources confirmed to journalists that the curfew will remain in place in order to isolate criminals and prevent them from unleashing terror on innocent citizens.
According to the sources, Jonathan, who has since received briefings from relevant service chiefs and other heads of security agencies, ordered that soldiers be deployed to all parts of the state, particularly Jos, the state capital, to jointly patrol the area with policemen so as to prevent further loss of lives and property.
Apparrently disturbed by reports that the soldiers posted didn't want to work together with the policemen, the government, the source added, directed that the soldiers and the police should work together and comb the streets of Jos and suburbs with a view to fishing out all those believed to be responsible for the recent bloodletting and bringing them to book.
Vice-President Jonathan described as shameful and disgraceful the unending religious crisis that befell Jos over time, saying the development was a minus for national unity and progress in the country. He said he was ashamed that those who had lived together for years would at this stage begin such ceaseless hostilities against each other.
He warned that without religious tolerance, there could never be development.
In a statement issued yesterday by his media assistant Ima Niboro, Jonathan said, "This is one crisis too many, and the Federal Government finds it most unacceptable, retrogressive, and capable of further sundering the bonds of unity in our country.
"The country cannot afford these constant eruptions, and while the situation has been brought under control by the security agencies, government is determined find a permanent solution to the Jos crisis."
He said the vice-president convened a meeting of security chiefs to review the situation and suggest ways for peace to reign in the city.
Niboro added that Jonathan had ordered for the urgent containment of the crisis and that he has further directed an urgent meeting of all key stakeholders, towards achieving lasting peace in the area.
"He also directed the inspector-general of police and the top hierarchy of the security services to proceed to Jos immediately to assess the situation and advise on further steps. They are also to put in place comprehensive security strategies to ensure that these constant eruptions do not happen again."
As the Senate gets set to debate the crisis today, Senate President David Mark declared as "nonsense" the action of the perpetrators of the sad development.
He urged the security operatives to ensure that the perpetrators of the crisis are brought to book.
Mark expressed concern that a few individuals have decided to bring the entire country to a standstill, assuring that the Senate could no longer fold its arms and watch such characters have their way.
His comments came on the heels of a point of order raised by Senator Dantong Gyang, who represents Plateau North under the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, drawing attention of the Senate to the crisis in Jos.
Gyang sought the leave of the Senate to bring a motion on the Jos crisis. His leave was granted to bring a motion on the floor of the Senate today.
According to the Senate president, "It is important that I make this point: this country cannot be sit, fold its arms and watch a few individuals hold this country to a standstill. We cannot continue to allow this nonsense. All the security agencies in this country should take note of this."
On its part, the Peoples Democratic Party has charged the Plateau State government to put machinery on ground to urgently restore permanent peace and tranquility in the state. The party further warned clerics and community leaders to desist from making inflammatory statements capable of further aggravating the fragile peace in the state.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, noted that the party viewed with total shock and sadness the latest outbreak of sectarian violence in Jos, which has become a recurrent feature in Plateau State.
"This frequent orgy of violence has not only soiled the good image of Plateau State, which used to be known as the home of peace and tranquility, but has also cast a dark shadow on our dear country Nigeria.
"We call on the government of Plateau State to urgently arrest this ugly situation. The state government should also put in motion machinery for restoring permanent peace and calm in the state and to also forestall any future re-occurrence.
"We wish to also call on clerics and community leaders to call their followers to order and to desist from making inflammatory statements capable of worsening an already tense situation."
The party further urged law enforcement agencies to redouble their efforts in unraveling those behind these dastardly acts with a view to bringing them to justice.
Meanwhile, the authorities of the University of Jos have cancelled their exams, warning students to stay away from troubled areas.
The Army, in response to questions as to the presence of fake soldiers in the conflict, the Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brig Gen. Chris Olukolade, told LEADERSHIP, "You can't rule out the fact that since there are known to be fake soldiers, it means that there are genuine soldiers on ground. We are taking precautionary measures so as not to allow fake soldiers in our midst. The genuine soldiers know how to recognise themselves. And measures are being put in place to nip the problem in the bud."
In a statewide broadcast to the people of the state, Governor Jang expressed regret that in spite of all that the government has done and is doing to promote harmony among the people, some persons are bent on taking the state backward.
He said having assessed the state of the crisis by the State Security Council, he was forced to review the curfew in Jos metropolis from 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. to 24 hours now as a way of halting the renewed crisis.
He said, "It is with pains that I address you my dear people of Plateau State. This government has in the past one year worked relentlessly to restore and sustain the peace we have been known for over the years. Our efforts have been made manifest through communal harmony, religious tolerance and maintaining security personnel on our streets in addition to continuous dialogue with various stakeholders so as to consolidate peace and security in the state. Similarly, the Inter-Religious Council has met and sent appeals to various interest groups, while other interest groups and stakeholders have been meeting to ensure peace is not only secured but also permanently.
"It is most unfortunate that while all these efforts were yielding the desired restoration of peace and security, we were again taken aback by forces that do not mean the state well."
"However, government has received with concern reports of men in fake security uniforms attacking unsuspecting citizens. Measures are being put in place to tackle this issue."
While sympathising with all those who lost their loved ones and property, the governor assured that security agents have taken over the situation and normalcy will soon return.
He commended security agencies for their courage and commitment to duty to see that the situation was returned to normalcy.
He said as part of measures to address the difficulties which displaced persons are facing, the government has set up a high powered search and rescue committee which will administer relief to the affected persons.
"We must realise that violence does no one any good. We must therefore resolve to settle our differences if any and or dispute through non-violent means. The peace and welfare of this and coming generations of Nigerians depends on our collective efforts. Peace has to be worked for and all hands must be on deck to bring it to reality. I therefore appeal to our religious and community leaders, and indeed all citizens, to rededicate our efforts towards enshrining peace in our beloved state."
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