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The Arewa Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association on Wednesday held a remembrance ceremony in memory of victims of the 2001 carnage perpetrated by suspected terrorists in Jos, Plateau State capital.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by ACIPA Chairman and Regional Coordinator, Rev. Luke Shehu, and made available to our correspondent in Abuja.
A former member of the National Assembly, Bitrus Kaze, had linked the major cause of the crisis in the state to an attempt by some people to forcefully take over the land belonging to the natives.
Kaze, who represented Jos South/Jos East Federal constituency of the state, recalled that the recurrent crisis in the state started in 1994 when the first major crisis broke out in Jos over the appointment of a sole administrator for Jos North Local Government Area.
Findings showed that as a measure to resolve the problem, the then military administrator set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry.
The PUNCH had reported the recommendations of the committee never saw the light of the day and subsequently defeated the purpose for which it was intended. For a period of about seven years, peace reigned in the land until 2001 when another crisis erupted in the Jos North Local Government Area.
In 2002, violence erupted in different parts of Jos. In the process, the Jos ultra-modern market believed to be the pride of the Plateau people and centre of commerce in the Middle Belt was burnt down. The destruction of the market which accounted for a major revenue earner for the state undoubtedly affected the state’s economy and negatively impacted the lives of the people.
In the same year, the violence spread to the Southern part of the state where Christians in Nshar, Yelwa Shendam, were attacked during morning service. Fifty lives were lost to the incident. Some Christian leaders in the Wase Local Government Area were invited to the then Emir of Wase palace for a peace meeting. After the meeting, seven of them were allegedly killed by youths in the area.
The crisis that followed the incident engulfed the southern zone of the state which culminated in the declaration of a state of emergency in 2004 in the state by then President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Commemorating the victims of the carnage on Wednesday, the Arewa Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association expressed concerns that it was evident that the clash has a lot to do with the grabbers of space and territories as their vassal conquered territory.
The statement, “Today, September 7, 2022 marks 21 years of sad nostalgic memory of crisis precipitated by terrorists on the Jos Plateau. ACIPA and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians specially commiserate with those who lost loved ones in that horrific incident which lasted days, became protracted and became part of our lasting memories.
“The memories of Plateau Christians and indeed all lovers of humanity cannot be impaired by the false narratives to distort the reality of the age-long plot against indigenous peoples heritage, identity and cherished values.
“In commemorating the lives lost, the bereaved and those who have been rendered orphans and widows, ACIPA also acknowledges the sacrifices and patronage of true patriots of the Plateau cum Northern Christian ideals and common values.
“We are aware that the Jos Plateau is intrinsically connected to the political dynamism and greatness of Nigeria. However, ACIPA wishes to warn all proponents of conspiracy and falsehood to the claims over Plateau as well as Nigerian Indigenous people’s rights, values and inheritance to desist. First, we are a people of cherished Christian values then Nigerians. It is evident that the clash over the Jos Plateau and a host of other ethnic people’s territory is not unconnected to the grabbers of space and territories as their vassal conquered territory.”
This is even as the Arewa pastors warned stakeholders at the state and local government levels to be wary of Federal Government’s policy on water ways after the failure of the Ruga and cattle ranching policies.
While establishing a connection between the New York City twin tower bombing of September 11 and the Jos bombing, the religious association warned that the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong does not have the locus standi to reconstruct the Jos main market destroyed by terrorists.
“We wish to draw the attention of government at all levels to be wary of policies such as the Federal government’s policy on waterways after the failure of the Ruga and cattle ranching policies.
“After ACIPA’s wide consultations, we can affirm that the generality of our Christian brethren across Nigerian believe in one indivisible, prosperous great Nigeria where the rule of law, and social justice thrives in a democratic dispensation and not under sharia. It is evident that the clamour for Sharia is not disconnected from radical ideologies that led to the September 7, 2001 menace and into the present imbroglio across Nigeria.
“Without apology, the New York City twin tower bombing of September 11, 2001, the Jos attack and the bombing/destruction of Jos main market were orchestrated and timed by the same global terrorist network. Unfortunately, our government did not only lack the practical will but choose to look the other side while they chase shadows.
“We hereby draw the attention of the Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Barrister Simon Bako Lalong to seize forthwith his plans to proceed with the reconstruction of the Jos main market destroyed by terrorists,” the statement read.
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