Juliana Taiwo, Yemi Akinsuyi and Seriki Adinoyi
11 March 2010
Abuja/Jos — Plateau State Governor, Da David Jonah Jang, has pleaded against any attempt for reprisal or vengeance attack following the massacre in Jos South Local Government Area of the state, last Sunday, in which hundreds of Berom women and children were killed in cold blood.
Reports had suggested that the attacks were a reprisal for the killing of the Fulani in the Jos North Local Government crisis last January, further fuelling fears of another reprisal by the Beroms.
But the military authorities have denied Jang's allegation that the army was complicit in Sunday's killings, while police authorities have disputed the casualty figure given by the state government.
The governor, who gave the warning against reprisals in a broadcast last night, also called for state-wide fasting and prayers to ask for forgiveness and peace.
His words: "These are not the best of times for us on the Plateau - I mean all of us brothers and sisters from all nationalities destined to be residents of our beautiful state.
"In the last few years, we have been witnesses to rounds of violence especially on our dear city Jos. Sadly of recent, these attacks have become one too many. The latest being in the early hours of last Sunday where four communities in the neighbouring local governments of Jos South and Barkin Ladi were attacked leaving in their trail many residents dead, especially women and innocent children and properties of inestimable value destroyed."
The governor also commiserated with those who lost loved ones and property in all the crises, saying: "Our God is a God of justice. I believe God has allowed this for a purpose.
"We must therefore continue to have faith in our living God. I pray that He will bring comfort to all those that have lost their loved ones in these crises.
"My dear citizens, at this hour of hurt and despair, it is human to start trading blames and making excuses. This will in no way solve our situation. As humans too, we are likely to be inflamed with hatred and bitterness. Also, this will do us no good both as individuals and as a state.
"There is also the temptation to start asking God, 'why'? I hereby call on all of us to as a people undertake three days of fasting from Thursday 11th - Saturday 13th March to pray and cry out to God for the forgiveness of our sins, and to please with him to bring peace on the Plateau and our dear nation, Nigeria.
"However, let me warn all those contemplating any reprisals or vengeance attacks to desist. This is because the Acting President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has since put the security agencies on red alert to deal with any further breach of the peace. Similarly, rumour mongers are warned to stop their nefarious activities and other conducts that have generated anxiety among our people. Residents are however advised to be vigilant and pass any useful information to the security agencies for verification instead of spreading unsubstantiated information.
"We must not allow this to continue. Violence cannot be used as a way of solving conflicts. We must all respect each other irrespective of any affiliations. The responsibility of achieving peace is a collective one. Therefore, all hands must be on deck for us to achieve this goal," he said.
Directing all local government chairmen and traditional rulers to hold regular meetings in their domain towards promoting harmony, and to also establish information desks where information could immediately be passed for onward submission to security agencies, Jang encouraged communities to be watchful of strangers in their midst and report same to relevant authorities.
Yesterday, the Nigerian Army described the statement credited to Jang indicting it over the killings as unfortunate and a calculated attempt to rubbish the image of the army.
Jang had while speaking to State House correspondents on Tuesday, blamed the army formation in Jos of not responding to an early warning alert before the massacre.
In a statement signed by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General A C Olukolade, the army said the governor had by his statement demonstrated an embarrassing naivety in interpreting the dynamics of land operations of the military.
"That Gov Jang visited the Defence Headquarters today Wednesday, 10 March, 2010 clearly indicates that he knows the appropriate authority to consult in the event of dissatisfaction with the action of any Army commander. Rather than follow this process, he resorted to inflammatory remarks targeted at rubbishing the army," he said.
The statement was silent on Jang's claim that he provided intelligence on the impending attack to the GOC of 82 Division, Jos, Major General Saleh Maina, which Maina failed to act on despite making a promise to deploy troops.
Meanwhile, the Plateau State Police Command has said 109 people died during the attack, contrary to the 500 widely reported in the mediam
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, told THISDAY that a body count revealed that 70 people comprising 12 male children, 26 female children, 16 female adults and 16 male adults were buried at the mass grave site.
The Commissioner said those privately buried by relations at Barki Ladi were 18, while 12 were buried by their relations at Dogo-Na-Hawa. Nine died while receiving treatment at Jos University Teaching Hospital.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communi-cations, Gregory Yenlong, however, said he stands by the earlier figure of 500 as the police were not present while he was going round with government officials in ascertaining the extent of damage.
The Information Commis-sioner accused the police of economising the truth by claiming that the attackers came from Furbur village in Jos East Local Government Area and not the neighbouring Bauchi State. He faulted the police contradiction as "diversionary and deceitful".
Some 50 people have been arrested after the violence and are to be charged with murder.
Aduba said those arrested had confessed that they were on a revenge mission. They are to be charged for conspiracy and culpable homicide.
Jang was yesterday seen at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, but refused to speak to journalists.
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This is a typical example of the failure of our so called leadership. No disrespect meant but I do not know why the governor is even talking at all. What exactly are you doing governor? This is happening under your watch. The fact is, you are too laid back!. I know for certain that you have had more than enough opportunity to take action a long time before now. We really do not need leadership that talks the talk but can not walk the talk. It is a shame that the governor is even openly talking about how he provided intelligence that was not acted on. Sir! are you there to provide intelligence?
We need leaders who can lead, not provide so called intelligence. The earlier Nigeria is rid of leaders who are there to do other things but lead the better. There are too many leaders that lack foresight, insight or even the will to do anything useful. Nigeria is at a crucial stage and it seems we gone 20 years backwards. A lot of our leaders are simply not capable of leadership