Checking Bloodletting In Plateau

For sometime now, Plateau State has become one of the most violent and crises ridden states in Nigeria. Hardly would a week pass without reports of killings in the state. This is in spite of the efforts made by the Federal Government to stem the tide of blood-letting in the country.

For instance, an elderly man of about 74 years old and his wife were reportedly killed on Sunday, September 3, 2011 along with nine others. The killings came soon after the murder of a family of eight near Jos.

Similarly, on September 9, fourteen people including a pregnant woman were murdered in Vivany Kogot village, Vivany district of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State. According to reports, some Fulani men allegedly stormed the village and carried out the dastardly killings. That was the third time the village would come under such attack with no fewer than nineteen lives lost and properties worth millions of naira destroyed by unknown gunmen.

In fact, Plateau State which used to be peaceful has become the den of killers and criminals. I am still at a loss why would people take delight in killing fellow citizens without a pinch of conscience.

Last year alone, Plateau State recorded hundreds of killings for one useless reason or the other. For instance, on March 7, 2010, about 500 people, mainly women and children were reportedly killed during the invasion of Dogo Nahawa Sheu village of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State at about 3.am.  Apart from the death casualties, many houses were also set ablazed by the Fulani invaders. The killings were said to be among the worst in the series of crises in the state.

Many people have given these incessant killings ethnic colouration. Some claim it is a struggle between the indigenous Beroms who are mostly Christians and the Hausa-Fulani settlers who are mostly Moslems. Whatever it is, we should note that almost every part of Nigeria is multi-ethnic and multi-religious. We should therefore learn to tolerate one another and live in peace so that this country can move forward. Afterall, what do we gain in killing one another in the name of ethnic and religious differences? Absolutely nothing.

However, perpetrators of evil should allow law-abiding citizens of Nigeria to go about their normal businesses. All those involved in the killing of fellow country men should be rounded up and given adequate punishment.

Although President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin to end the killings in Plateau State, it is necessary that the citizens cooperate with the government in putting an end to these mindless killings. Also, the National Emergency Management Agency should take prompt action to address the plight of displaced persons in the state, while the warring factions lay down their arms and embrace tolerance, dialogue and compromise to ensure the success of the on-going efforts to find a lasting solution to the crises.

Meanwhile, government should ensure that there is no hiding place for evil perpetrators. The law enforcement agency should be strengthened to curtail the rate of mayhem in the state, while culprits are made to face the full wrath of the law.

Tolofari, a distinguished fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria, lives in Port Harcourt.

Mann Tolofari