Cry Jos, And It’s Ongoing Grief And Loss On The Plateau. A Personal Story
The Oasis Reporters
July 15, 2023
The north central state of Plateau, then known mostly as a part of Northern Nigeria was a melting pot of different tribes from the North, East, Mid Western and Western regions of Nigeria with diverse cultures, religions when I was growing up as a child in the 60s.
Fusing these diverse groups together were a variety of commonly shared experiences, such as celebrating Sallah, Christmas and Easter together.
I visited the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Christopher Musa and the Chief of Army Staff, Major General, Taoreed Lagbaja and we both agreed that a swift intervention to arrest the deteriorating security situation in Mangu, Barkin-Ladi, Riyom and other Local Government… pic.twitter.com/hAftNnMnsG
— Caleb Mutfwang (@CalebMutfwang) July 13, 2023
The bird of peace on the Plateau first flew out in the aftermath of the unfortunate 1966 coup. The angry response to the killings equally touched the Plateau.
No one saw things through the prisms of religious persuasions.
It was region versus region and an Exodus commenced in the midst of killings. Those fleeing from the Plateau were Easterners and Christians.
They had lost everything from houses, businesses, friendships and even lives and they were running away from fellow Christians who had a one regional bond with Fulani, Hausa and Indigenous Muslims.
That was a difficult time for all Nigerians.
Now and over fifty years after, the insecurities in Plateau State has new perspectives and actors that used to fight as one. It is mainly tribal now, and also religious and the killing is getting worse. The fight is for displacement and the right to return to ancestral villages for people who were decimated and had to flee from their homes, running for their lives.
Lives of a senator and an Assembly man had been gruesomely taken, while they were at the burial of villages that had seen mass killings. Senator Danfulani and Hon. Gyang.
Plateau State needs a dedicated and forceful hand to end the needless carnage.
TROOPS CLEAR AMBUSH IN MANGU, ANNIHILATE 3 BANDITS, RECOVER WEAPONS
— Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy) July 12, 2023
Troops of 3 Division of the Nigerian Army deployed to quell the crisis in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau state have neutralized 3 Bandits today Wednesday 12 July 2023. The troops obliterated the… pic.twitter.com/Dfvks29AMe
The killings just must end for Plateau to take it’s place and revive it’s agro business. The time is now.
Greg Abolo
gregabolo@gmail.com
