THE CARNAGE IN JOS

THE CARNAGE IN JOS   By Is-haq Akintola   A tragedy of immense proportion occurred in Jos, Plateau State on Friday 24th December, 2010, Christmas eve. Three bombs exploded in a coordinated manner between 7.30 and 8 pm. The immediate death toll was twenty but it has since been rising. The latest report, according to the Punch newspaper, is that the number of people who died as a result of the attack has risen to eighty.   We have never witnessed anything like this in this country. It is an atrocity of unimaginable dimension. Though it is the second bomb attack in four months (after the October 1st independence day explosions that killed about 12 people) the targets and timing indicate a totally different authorship. The October 1st bombers had a clear motive, namely, to call attention to the Niger Delta question and they attacked the heart of Nigeria on independence day. The bombers in Jos struck on Christmas eve and the target victims were Christians, leaving no one in doubt as to their motive. This is exactly what we have been fearing: the emergence of terrorism on Nigerian soil. It came like a bolt from the blues, turning our joy into sadness and our peace into bedlam.   There are mixed feelings here and there. While Christians are asking, "Why are they killing us?" peace-loving Muslims are wondering, "What are they dragging us into?"   The bad news is that an Islamic group, Jamaatu Ahli Sunnah Lidda'wat Wal-Jihad has claimed responsibility. The good news is that Muslims throughout the country are united in their condemnation of this criminal act. The Sultan of Sokoto and leader of all Muslims in Nigeria blames the political leadership for allowing this to happen. Various Islamic organizations issued press statements decrying the attack.   The bombings were linked to land disputes in Jos. This is the opinion of Honourable Bitrus Kaze, the lawmaker representing Jos-East/Jos-South Federal House of Representatives. According to him, the Christmas eve bombings were the continuation of the dispute between various groups over who owned Jos. This lends credence to the Sultan's position that the issue here is not necessarily religion. Ethnicity is at the forefront. Bad leadership has added fuel to the flame.   But what should the rest of us do? Where do we go from here? How do we stop the carnage or do we stand akimbo waiting for the crisis to spread to other parts of the country? I think the time to act is now.   The Federal Government should not leave things in the hands of the government of Plateau State. Already, there are enough signs that the state government does not enjoy the confidence of all the stakeholders in the state and this explains the escalation. The Federal Government must quickly find out if any of the stakeholders have been marginalized in earlier negotiations. All must return to the roundtable.   But above all the security agencies must ensure that there is no repetition, not only of bomb explosions, but also of secret killings, disappearances, destruction of places of worship, etc. The red alert must not be limited to Plateau State. It must be extended to all states where bandwagon effects are likely to occur.   This is the time to manifest maturity. Nigerians must eschew sectional and religious interests in this matter if we do not want to ridicule ourselves in the commity of nations. The bombings have already attracted international attention and a personality of no less standing, the Secretary general of the United Nations, Banki Moon, has issued a statement.   My appeal goes to the feuding groups. They must sheath swords in the interest of our dear country. Commentators on the unfortunate incident should avoid statements capable of inciting either side. I urge the press not to play to the gallery. If ever we needed responsible journalism, this is indeed the time, otherwise the whole country might go up in flames.   Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Associate Professor of Islamic Studies, Lagos State University, P.O. Box 10211, LASU Post Office, HO 102 101, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria. Tel. 234-803-346-4974   I remain oppressed untill the hungry are fed, the naked clothed, the sick healed and the homeless sheltered