By Isa Bature
Since 2001, violence has erupted in Jos, capital of Plateau state, in Nigeria’s North Central region, which happens to be my hometown. I was born and raised in Jos and have lived the better part of my life there, before relocating to Abuja in 2015.
Jos, once Nigeria’s most serene city is currently synonymous with pointless brutality arising from armed confrontations, reprisal attacks and terrorist activities. The city that used to hold a lot of attractions for tourists presently finds it difficult to maintain love for the residents as fear rules both day and night.
Growing up when Muslims and Christians lived peacefully together was a real blessing. We attended the same schools and play football together. I could remember when we were kids, we had scheduled matches every weekend between Muslims and Christians. Festive periods were celebrated together. At that time, life was fun. We never thought a time like this will come. But things started changing after the return of democracy in 1999. From burning down our Main Market to ethnic and religious conflict that lasted almost two decades.
There were times when we thought that peace will never return to our dear Plateau State. We witnessed high-intensity conflicts that caused the death of thousands; while also, several thousand have been displaced with properties destroyed. The various peace mechanisms introduced to restore peace to the state in general; and Jos in particular, have failed in this regard as residents live, clustered by ethnicity and religion to aid defense and attack as may be deemed necessary.
The city managed to stay calm after the assumption of Governor Simon Lalong into office. Governor Lalong won the 2015 governorship election and with his rescue mission has succeeded in addressing the problem for the four years of his first mandate, but with renewed efforts from some blood tasty miscreants, the peace has been interrupted after two years into his second spell as Governor of the state.
Top-level religious leaders have preached peace and tolerance, but the message does not trickle down fully. While grassroots initiatives echo their tenor, mid-level religious leaders feel under pressure to protect their communities. We lost our glory and we are paying heavily for the crimes of the heartless among us. This has to stop. Let’s embrace peace as it is the only way to achieve political and economic growth.
Federal and state political elites must renounce violence, restrain their supporters and negotiate a peaceful solution to the dispute over Jos North and its environs. Religious leaders can take the lead in this regard by first negotiating a set of principles for an agreement that can guide the politicians, and then using their religious offices to mediate among political leaders and to remind the adherents of both faiths that Islam and Christianity are religions of peace and tolerance.
On the part of the citizens, let’s melt our hearts, and melt our souls, and start again. I know we can do better. May Allah grant us lasting peace in Jos, Plateau State and Nigeria at large.
Isa writes from Abuja
