charix:
This was a really good read although I'm still skeptical on visiting the Northern region. I've been to Katsina in the past, the president's very own village precisely. I enjoyed the place during my one week stay and found the people friendly but kept at the back of my mind it was only a matter of time before anything could happen. I remember very well it started like a joke when we heard religious crises happened in 2010 or so and wiped off healthy nysc serving corpers. What do their families have to show for their struggle now apart from tears and meagre compensation from the then serving administration? Better safe than sorry I'd always say.

truth is muslems are naturally good pple but not when there religion tells them to fight

The most friendly niqqas in the country, thumps up ma guy.

Op, what u should be afraid is not the pple, but their brain, they are easily manipulated, they will totally forget who u were to them at that moment. You can be friends with them but once it comes to religion, they dnt know u again. All this force kidnapping and marriage of young Christian girls, n conversion are all the out come of been too relax mostly the uneducated once. They will carry out what their religious leader tell them to do.. I dnt say u should blive me or u north is a bad place, i was born and brought up there for 18yrs, just remember that wen it comes to religion and politic be careful! 2010 i was writing my weac den, na so so gun dey sound everywhere, why, they v been manipulated that an infidel(GEJ) can't rule them.

Above all, remove ISLAM from the north, i will become a hausa person!!! Till then i look dem with my 2 eyes wide open.

mecussey:


truth is muslems are naturally good pple but not when there religion tells them to fight

Hey, not Muslims, but the people as a human, are good pple, it is the religion which make dem act Craze, and that is what makes them Muslims. V u seen some one posses by an evil spirit b4. Apply it here. At one stage they act cool but wen the spirit wanna show it self, trouble comes.

Note: This affect mostly the uneducated once, but till most of the educated once are affected too, cos it a spirit. Just a look at the Shiite issue, ARE THEY THE LAW, IS THE COUNTRY THEIRS, WHY DO THEY HV THE FREEDOM TO KILL THEIR FELLOW BROTHER because OF THERE DIFF VIEW OF RELIGION. #MANIPULATION. To kill no be problem as far say their leader say so.

The only problem with nigeria is bad "leaders".

If we get leaders like awolowo, things would be great.

ItsQuinn:
I've never been to the north or experience their way of life so I can't judge

Give it a try ma'am, promise you won't regret it.

The irony of the religious crisis in the north was triggered by an Igbo man:Major Nzeogwu who entered the house of the most revered leader of northern muslims saurdana of sokoto's palace, dragged him out and shot him like a dog during the first ever military coup. And the fool had the effrontery to take the picture of himself putting his boot on the dead man's face to The north hasn't recovered from that time: and they haven't forgotten either.

Na now you know

oweniwe:
They made you comfortable cos you're a corper. Try staying behind after Nysc.... Nobody will beg you to run

No mind am!

Fearcom:
The irony of the religious crisis in the north was triggered by an Igbo man:Major Nzeogwu who entered the house of the most revered leader of northern muslims saurdana of sokoto's palace, dragged him out and shot him like a dog during the first ever military coup. And the fool had the effrontery to take the picture of himself putting his boot on the dead man's face to The north hasn't recovered from that time: and they haven't forgotten either.

Diversionary. I hope you know history. There are about three religious or ethnic riots in the North before 1966. 1954, 1957 and 1963

MilitaryMinded:
The perception of the average Southerner who has never visited the North and vice versa is just appalling. They just believe the North is place where Southerners are targeted on the street and killed just like that. The North may be more conservative, But the cost of Living in the North is far cheaper than the south. Infact, it is far more likelier to see a Southerner in the North than a Northerner in the South. And more people bringing up random incidents of corpers who lost thier lives in the North, it happens every where in this country. My neighbor was killed in Enugu state in the early 2000s while serving. A corper drowned in Rivers state not so long ago. So its not peculier to the North

Most Corpers that died in the South, died out of natural causes, while those that died on the North were Killed by Northerners during crisis
Who told you that is more likely to see a Southerner in North than vice versa, are you kidding me
The Phobia most southerners have for North is not a joking matter, even the Op stated this.
Northerners are more in the South - doing business, begging..

LordIsaac:
B
But there were people who came to the same North and are not alive today. The most recent was the pastor's wife who was murdered. So my brother, your view is not absolute. Just thank God you weren't a victim of illiteracy and fanatiscm!

did you reaaalllly have to quote the whole damn post?

Nysc Z da only fruitful legacy left 4 nigeria youth. can remember vividly it was da same tin dat amamma from enugu said, wen we were in Blackgold Camp Kaduna. dat north being a death zone Z being exagerated. infact she was planning 2 stay en da north evn afta her service year.

Well done broda. You get liver. I know a guy who was at Uni in Kwara circa 2010. His best friend told him not to come to Uni for the next two days as the locals were planning an attack on Christian students. A word is enough for the wise.

It takes one talk or sermon for them to switch - dem no get individual, critical thought

WinningSun:
maybe I should show my uncle who lost his all during one their crisis how friendly they are.

my dad lost everything in his village. Should we run away from there too.
Crisis is crisis anywhere

[quote author=Chriswazo post=50225561]

that's not true sir, all you need is to understand and respect their culture and religion values. This is not general in some circumstances, i have stayed with Hausa guys that are very liberal with their lifestyles just like us in the East, they have girlfriends, night club and very good at drinking beer. I quite understand some other environments don't permit a rather liberal way of life but are extremely reserved.[/quote
Facts remains that I can't trust the average Fulani/Hausa guys. At the drop of a pin, they can change and turn into a monstrous beast and you will be consumed without the slightest remorse not minding the number of years you have been their friend. This is heightened if the matter borders on religion. Time and time again,I have been proven right. Op, shine your eyes, I don't want to lose a brother

A minute madness is all is needed for killing to start in the north...... I also served in Kano,I even worked there post nysc .....a good place on a good day,but if their madness starts,guy they won't even think u re a Muslim or not,once u re not Hausa,u re gone.

You can't suppress the truth forever

What you have in the north is a grave yard peace. Anything can happen at anytime and you become a victim. At the slightest provocation you are dead. Just wait until French magazine write something offends the muslims then you will know the real deadly unstable north. North is a no go area whether you want to accept it or not.

Chriswazo:

That not withstanding, i understand your position towards them, we should always keep a wary eye wherever we see ourselves.

Free bike rides? Pity I have never gotten one...

ultraprime:
Free bike rides? Pity I have never gotten one...

Lol.

What is the topic?

ItsQuinn:
That's kaduna, he's talking about Zamfara

True! My cousin barely escaped death in Kano and testified to the bolded. Some of her friends were killed by their very own Muslim neighbors who they trusted.

MRSALT:
Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi do not have violent street urchins like Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi and in recent times, Katsina. Your experience in Zamfara cannot account for all northern states. More so north is generally ok at peace time. But those that give you cold water are thesame people that will slit your throat in event of any crises. Many victims of northern madness thought that north was land flowing with honey, just like you. I know of one Ibo boy that returned from London to do his NYSC in Bauchi. He eulogised northerners better than you. His throat was later slit by thesame Almajiris that ran errand for him. I stayed in the north for 7 years travelling to about 12 states. I am giving you a real fact about the situation in the north.

Chriswazo:
How NYSC changed my view of the North
by Nnaemeka Anyiam, July 04, 2013 at 12:00 am in Campus Life FacebookTwitterSMSWhatsApp

“If Nigeria is to make rapid progress on all fronts internally, and if she’s to make her mark on the continent of Africa, and, indeed, in the comity of nations, her youths must be fully mobilised and be prepared to offer willingly and without asking for rewards in return, their best in the service of their nation at all times,” Gen. Yakubu Gowon, former Head of State, said during the inauguration of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on June 4, 1973.

Prior to being mobilised for the National Youth Service, I used to think of horrific experiences I would go through during my service year. Fresh from the furnace, which higher institution campuses can be called, a graduate is made to live with yet another people from different cultural backgrounds with a meagre stipend and no accommodation.

I got the impression that the scheme was a post-civil war panacea for reuniting the country. Well, our leaders caused the civil war but why are they disturbing my life by asking me to heal the wound they had caused? So I thought. When I was younger, I really hoped that events and government in Nigeria would abolish this mandatory service before it got to my turn.

Today, however, I write this piece as a Corps member and a willing participant in a scheme I once wished should be abolished. And it is amazing that I discovered the beauty of the scheme just in my first few months of active service to my fatherland.

When I was posted to Zamfara State, it took me time to get over the trauma. After I got my call-up letter, I sat on a fence for hours, ruing what had befallen me. With growing insecurity in the North, I had thought I was going for a journey of no return. But was it funny? My colleagues, who got posted to relatively peaceful parts of the country, mocked me, as though it was all planned.
Some of them pitied me and said sweet words to douse my fear. The thought of redeployment came to mind. Friends asked me to feign incurable ailment just to get out of Zamfara State after the three-week orientation.
Hitherto, I had been told the story of Zamfara and its strict Sharia Legal system during the administration of Governor Ahmad Yerima. We heard stories of amputation as punishment for even mild offences. Since I could not change the posting immediately, I left for the state with open mind. It was when I got to the state that I knew all the stories we heard in the South were actually exaggerated.

In the orientation camp, dance and drama competitions held for Corps members brought together people of various tribes of the country to foster unity. I heard languages I never thought existed; names I could never pronounce. We discussed issues ranging from insecurity and corruption and it was surprising to see my fellow Corps members condemning evil. Our daily activities in the camp always started with a Muslim and Christian prayer and this shows that we are one people indivisible by religion or ethnicity.
We were privileged to have top government officials, including the Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Muhammad Ahmad, and the NYSC State Co-ordinator, Mrs Ruth Bakka, to educate us on the state and its people. The Emir stated clearly that Sharia was to guide Muslims on their religious path and thus was not binding on non-Muslims. He said Christians are free to go about their normal business without fear of molestation whatsoever but should dress decently and respect the law of the land.

In Southern part, we have different opinion of the North. We were told that places such as Zamfara State belong to Siberia given its low level of education and its culture, which is believed to be brutish and ordinary.
We were told that Hausa girls don’t go to school. But I was stunned to see over 3,000 girls in a secondary school in Samaru struggling to get education. In camp, I met Muslim girls, who graduated with better grades than many of us from the South. They all wore Hijabs (veil), which were neatly tucked in.

I also found that the average Hausa man is trustworthy and down-to-earth. When he tells you it is N10 gaskiya (truth), so it is. Tell a motorcyclist that you are stranded and he will be glad to help you to where you are going.
At the place of my primary assignment (PPA), senior officials would make tea in a cold morning and share among the staff; even the gatemen would use cups from the Oga’s office. But Ogas in the south are to be feared from afar. One’s effort to learn Hausa language is instantly rewarded with slashed prices of commodities.
When I was posted to my PPA in Kaura Namoda and I lost my way, I was directed to the lodge of Muslim Corps members, where I was fed and attended to regardless of my religious affiliation. This selfless service to has constantly been rendered by the Nigerian Christian Corpers Fellowship (NCCF), Muslim Corpers Association of Nigeria (MCAN), Catholic Corpers Association and the likes. These organisations are made up of Nigerians helping Nigerians regardless of tribe or tongue. This is one of the dividends of the NYSC scheme.

I am now confident that the scheme is steadily achieving its objective, which is “to inculcate in Nigerian youths the spirit of selfless service to the community and to emphasise the spirit of oneness and brotherhood of all Nigerians, irrespective of cultural or social background.”

Serving in Zamfara State has afforded me a lot of opportunities I would not have had if I remained in my Eastern zone. At least, I have experienced Zamfara for myself and can now separate fact from fiction. The state is peaceful and friendly. You are appreciated as a Corps member.

The state even has good amusement park when my Imo State cannot boast of one. I have seen their religious practices and I can now compare with mine. I have seen their flaws and I now know how I can help. I have understood that you don’t judge people or any entity from afar; you must come closer, live amongst them and you will be amazed at how much you did not know.
More importantly, I have seen that we are all the same people and can exist as one; you as a Christian and I as a Muslim, life will still go on. Our cultural and religious differences are simply variety, which we all know are spices of life. There is really no need for the hate anyone because of his tongue, background or faith.

Nnaemeka is a Corps member, NYSC GUSAU
http://thenationonlineng.net/how-nysc-changed-my-view-of-the-north/

Good write up , but there is one thing I really know about the North, killing innocent people. They kill at will. Your comments are OK but the one I mentioned above is my personal reason I dislike completely that part of Nigeria.

babyfaceafrica:
Northerners are generally honest and friendly and they can smoke shisha and pipe..chai...I fear those people...dey don't really drink like that but love women die...my advisse to anyoe who wants to visit north is to go to the soji ones like kano,kaduna,niger,abuja and jos.......all dose jigawa,sokoto ,gombe and kebbi too dry abeg

Lol... abeg I lie down o.. no let laugh kill me..

MeenalKd:
Nice writeup OP..Am from the north..I can boldly say that each part of the country has its flaws..I have been to Port Harcourt and Imo..I really enjoyed my stay thou I couldn't move freely with my veil had to use a headtie on my head...One Nigeria

Did anyone confront you for using your veil hajia?

Meanwhile, most of my friends who have served in kano, kaduna, sokoto, niger refused to come back immediately. Some are still there over 2, 3 years. A friend in warri recently told he had a job in adamawa but didn't go for it meanwhile I have another who (I don't know) love to or work mostly in the northern states though family is based in Abuja. Me, am open to opportunities up north as long as it's in my core career line.

I serve in school of health tsafe, I visited bukuyum close to gummi 4 rural rugger. the state is cool but issue of religion must be consider.

NYSC exercise is never complete when the females from the north re hurriedly withdrawn back to their States if posted to the SS , SE and other distant areas. It is only from the SS, SE, W, and MB citizens u hear are flocked in the north roaming in the villages and becoming victims of circumstances. Anyways, ur write up is cool but people's comments wud guide u.

Sincerely, I was taken over by emotions when I read your piece.
Why so much hate bitterness and acrimony.
I have just been debating with friends who still believe that Chibok girls was a scam probably because we aren't from the north.
Let our generation wake and say: we are one!!!!

Fearcom:
The irony of the religious crisis in the north was triggered by an Igbo man:Major Nzeogwu who entered the house of the most revered leader of northern muslims saurdana of sokoto's palace, dragged him out and shot him like a dog during the first ever military coup. And the fool had the effrontery to take the picture of himself putting his boot on the dead man's face to The north hasn't recovered from that time: and they haven't forgotten either.

bro just google religious crisis in Nigeria I did a report on it during my 200 level (peace and conflict) it began in the north before independence.

Ugmama:

Did anyone confront you for using your veil hajia?

yes oooo..I was harassedvso I had to stop using it..