Violent conflict in the city of Jos - and in much of Nigeria - is about rights, access to resources and access to power. In the latest attacks, more than 200 people have been killed at the hands of mobs armed with machetes. These atrocities follow a violent outbreak in late January when more than 300 people are thought to have been killed and are believed to be reprisal attacks. The violence is not tribal, it is sectarian, but its roots run a lot deeper and are more complicated than religious identity.
Nigeria's constitution makes passing mention of the concept of the 'indigene' in reference to appointment of ministers, but the concept is not defined in the constitution. The term has become a divisive tool and has led to discrimination against Nigerians within their own borders, rather than safeguarding minorities in a nation of more than 250 ethnic groups.
Historically Jos was a tin mining town and drew migrants from across the country. It remains a city with a diverse population but economic decline and population growth have put pressure on land and resources. In Jos, the Muslim population is considered to be 'non-indigene' while the Christian population regards itself as the indigenous population - with rights to control political power and the state's resources - so the concept of the indigene has led to the use of religion to pursue political power. This has created tensions, suspicions and resentment within communities, which in the past had lived relatively harmoniously with some intermarriage.
The most recent outbreaks of violence have been stoked by rumours spread through text-messaging. Individuals from both sides who sought to prevent violence or did not follow the mob may have been targeted regardless of which community they belong to.
This violence follows a pattern, with similar outbreaks occurring in 2001, 2004 and 2008. The danger facing the people of Plateau State is that such conflict is likely to occur more frequently and with greater intensity if people's grievances go unaddressed and the perpetrators of violence go unpunished. Communities and families have been destroyed, possibly thousands of people have been displaced and infrastructure has been damaged - yet reparation and justice are lacking.
The response and effectiveness of the security services has also been problematic - often seen as partisan or excessively forceful, resulting in additional and unnecessary civilian deaths. In past instances of conflict, the state government has called commissions of inquiry, but these can be slow and impede evidence gathering and hamper prosecutions.
The timing of violence is often linked to political events, for example, local government elections in 2008. Though manifested as religious conflict, this violence is in fact dominated by politics and a winner-takes-all approach to governing. To avoid the situation becoming any worse, the state government must act with local authorities to take effective measures in assisting victims and punishing perpetrators, to curb hate-speech and control rumour, to identify and prosecute those responsible for organizing the violence and to work with civil society to attempt some sort of reconciliation. However, currently there is little incentive for state and local government leaders to tackle the problem in this way - in fact a fairer and more cohesive society could well threaten their own positions.
After the 2008 crisis in Jos, President Yar'Adua threatened to suspend the state governor, Jonah Jang, if there was another outbreak of violence, and perhaps he would have during the January 2010 crisis had he been in the country. Uncertainty regarding Goodluck Jonathan's position as vice-president or acting president has limited his capacity to take firm action and slowed his response.
Even now, although Goodluck Jonathan's status as acting president has been affirmed, politics and alliances in Nigeria are such that many question his ability to act with confidence and conviction - although the recent sacking of national security adviser Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar may suggest he is becoming more confident. Until the political culture in much of Nigeria changes, this will likely not be the last or worst of the violence Plateau State will see.
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CHATHAM HOUSE: Get your facts, analysis and definitions correct - the term "indigene" describes the aboriginal tribes of the geographical area from time memorial or immemorial. It does NOT in any way describe religious affiliation: though proportionally few, there are hundreds of Berom Muslimss, as there are Muslims from other tribes aboriginal to Plateau State. They are Muslim INDIGENES of Plateau State. The Hausa-FULANI tribes is NOT indigenous to Plateau State. A Christian Hausa-Fulani person would NOT be indigenous to Plateau State.
Granted, it is a struggle form power, dominance and perhaps access to resources: But why is it that it is ONLY the Hausa-Fulani who are having this issue with Indigenes of Plateau? Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians from other ethnic groups live peacefully in Jos without issue (until the Hausa-Fulani come calling that is). Go visit the Hausa dominated Sharia states and see the true meaning of INDIGENE. Then tell the others why they should apply it differently.
Afterall, isn't it you wazungu who tell us what's good for the goose is good for the gander?
REGARDLESS WHAT THE WRITER IS IMPLICATING; WE ALL KNOW THAT HIS/HER IMPLICATION IS COMPLICATED AND BASE ON DESTRUCTION. THEREFORE, WE "AFRICANS" MUST NOT LISTEN TO SUCH AN OUTRAGE AND DESTRUCTIVE WRITING; SINCE THEIR THOUGHTS ARE TO DESTROY AFRICA. WHAT NIGERIA NEED TO DO NOW IS FOR THE POLITICAL ELITES AND THE LAW MAKERS TO DO THEIR OUTMOST BEST SO THAT ALL NIGERIANS IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY SHOULD LEAVE AND BE IN PEACE FOR EVER. MAJOR POINTS, ONLY AFRICANS CAN HELP AFRICANS; EVIL EXTERNAL FORCES ARE ALWAY TRYING TO DESTROY AFRICA AND IT'S A SHAME THAT SOME OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS DO NOT KNOW THAT.
Nigeria has for decades been suffering from the scourge of Islamic terrorism. What is going on in Plateau state and Jos is nothing but a continuation of that. It is Islamic terrorism against innocent Christians and other non-Muslims. Anyone suggesting the contrary is simply engaging in a campaign of disinformation, a campaign that can only embolden the terrorists and exacerbate the situation.
This region has over the years proved to be a terrorist hub and a terrorist incubator. Just a few examples:
- They have routinely massacred hundreds of thousands of non-Muslims resident in that area over the years.
- On 9/11 there were dancing and jubilation in the major towns and villages of this area followed by taunting of Christians.
- When attack on the terrorists started in Afghanistan, there were demonstrations, followed by killing and burning of Christians and non-Muslims and their property. Most of the victims didn't even know what Afghanistan was about.
- Many of the terrorists captured in Afghanistan were from that area and till today, elements from there continue to train along-side well known international terrorists.
- On 7/7 in London there were again dancing and jubilation in their major towns and villages. Same is true for the Madrid bombing.
- During the Danish Mohamed cartoon controversy there were again demonstrations on their streets and villages, followed by killing and burning of Christians and non-Muslims and their property.
- The sect Boko Haram that says that Western Educated is evil was incubated there.
- No need to mention the latest attack on an American Northwest Airlines by a terrorist born and bred in that area.
- There are even suggestions that Osama Bin Laden is hiding in Northern Nigeria, protected by the corrupt Jihadist oligarchs with their ill gotten wealth.
- The Sokoto Caliphate, (for those blue eyed Westerners who don't know anything), is the model Osama Bin Laden's Al Qaida and similar terrorists groups are using for the global caliphate of their dream. Many of them don't even know where Sokoto is. Yet they parade themselves as experts on Nigeria.
- The evil man of Nigeria, the SNAKE (a.k.a. Ibrahim Babangida) did so much to Islamize Nigeria by force and presided over the slaughter of non-Muslims in the north second only to the pogrom of Igbos in the 1960s. His reign of terror was also a peak of Islamic audacity and impunity.
- This same man, acting with characteristic impunity of the Hausa / Fulani jingoists, registered the predominantly Christian country with the Organisation of Islamic countries OIC without consulting anyone from the Christian community.
Nigeria has a history of incitements by the Jihadist oligarchs of the far north (i.e.. the Hausa-Fulani) located in the Sharia states Examples include
- the perennial violence and terrorism by Muslims in those states against innocent Nigerians of other faith
- Proliferation of Madrasas while embezzling decades old special education fund (for educationally disadvantaged states that they receive from the Federal government for educating their population.
- the constant demand for the imposition of sharia law on the whole Nigeria by such groups as The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) and the Jihadist mafia Arewa Consultative Forum.
It may be pertinent to point out that those Western news media and so called researchers who are promoting the view that the Nigerian brand of terrorism has nothing to do with religion but is all about competition for resources are expressing their well known and well documented stereotype about Africa and about Christians. The same people attribute HIV Aids infection in Eastern Europe and Asia to poor medical infrastructure but in Africa, they say it is due to uncontrollable and indiscriminate sex. Researchers who dared to point out that the poor state of health infrastructure is mainly responsible for the spread of HIV in Africa were shouted down. Yet those who understand both Western and African societies know that sexual immorality, sexual pleasure and sexual promiscuity are not only promoted but are a way of life in the West. By Comparison, Africans are very conservative in matters of sex. This is only one of several examples of stereotypes about Africa. The BBC is, in particular notorious for promoting Islamic terrorism in Nigeria mere Competition for Resources
Once again, what is happening in Nigeria is TERRORISM by Muslims against innocent Christians and non-Muslims. The first step in dealing with it is to call it by its proper name.