January 17, 2010
Jos, the Plateau State capital again went up in flames, deaths and destruction on Sunday morning after a disagreement over plot size between a Christian and Muslim, both neighbors. The Dutse-Uku area of Nasarawa Gwom in Jos North was soon engulfed in riots between Christians and Muslims due to miss-understanding between the two neighbors. Houses, mostly belonging to Christians were burnt as most of them were in Church for the usual Sunday services, hence unavailable to defend their homes.Between 10.30am and 2pm on Sunday much havoc was wrecked as the entire quarters re-grouped along religious lines and began a riot that spread to other parts of the city leading to a death toll of about 35 people. The governor, David Jonah Jang has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew. A statement released by the government house read: “after reviewing the security situation along with the state security council, we have directed the observance of 6pm to 6am curfew within Jos metropolis. “The measure is aimed at nipping in the bud the prevailing security situation in Jos town so that hoodlums will not take advantage of the security breach to molest innocent citizens.”
NewsBreaksNow spoke with a Muslim religious leader, Mallam Said who said Muslim homes were also burnt and some of the Hausa Muslims were killed too. He refused to respond to other questions about the premeditated nature and timing of the attack. When, NewsBreaksNow spoke with a Christian leader, Mr. Amos Ade whose house was burnt and managed to escape with his family simply because he was in Church, he described the attack as wicked.
“Why will a disagreement between two people lead to the burning down of houses and killings of Christians who this people knew were not even at home to defend themselves. This is not right and I hope government will deal with those that planned this wickedness”. He was unable to mention the number of deaths because according to him, phone calls were coming in relaying latest information.
Both Christian and Muslim communities are on edge right now in Jos. Both groups were affected but it is clear based on the evidence on the ground that the Christian group suffered the more deaths and destruction. NewsBreaksNow can confirm that the 7-bedroom family home and family car of a a senior journalist who was formerly with the Voice of America were razed down.
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The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Greg Ayating, revealed that 35 arrests had been made, five of them in military uniform. He explained that the extent of houses and churches burnt could not be ascertained as yet and that the police would want to work with definite statistics. But he said the information available to him is that “a hand-full of some Muslim youths without any form of provocation began to attack the Christians worshippers in their places of worship”.
According to This Day newspaper report, two burnt bodies and a motor-bike were seen around the Jos Central Mosque. Staff of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) also confirmed that at least eight bodies were brought to the mortuary. The same picture was painted at the Plateau State Specialist Hospital where over 30 wounded patients were on the floor.
Investigations by Newsbreaksnow revealed that the State Capital wore an uneasy peace since the report of the religious panel set up to investigate the 2008 deadly religious riots was submitted. This coupled with the recent call for the immediate prosecution of the culprits of the 2008 riots tensed up the inhabitants especially followers of the two religions.
Newsbreaknow: Fresh Jos violence kills 35
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