Jos: Three Injured, Four Arrested in Fresh Fracas
• Jang optimistic on Peace
From George Oji in Abuja and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos, 03.26.2010

At least three people, including the Divisional Police Officer in charged of ‘B’ Division in Bukuru, Jos, South Local Government Area of Plateau State, were severely injured in a fresh fracas that involved youth of the area following a fight that erupted after a football match.

This is coming as Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang expressed optimism that given the reinforcement of security in the State as well as the desire of the citizens to embrace one another peace will soon return to the State. Jang who expressed this assurance while speaking to State House Correspondents after a meeting with the Acting President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa Abuja vowed to leave no stones unturned in his efforts to restore peace and reunite the people of the State.
A statement by Brigadier-General, Donald Oji, for Commander of the Special Task Force, Jos, said “the violence started at about 5;30 pm, involving some youths after the games of Football, and led to a blockade of roads and assault on passersby, three people were injured in the process, including the DPO of “B” Division, Bukuru. Four people were also arrested in connection with the breach of peace”.

The statement further appealed to the public, especially youth to desist from taking laws into their hands, ‘’We appeal to the public, especially the youths to desist from taking laws into their hands and causing breaches of peace, we also appeal to parents and elders to reciprocate our gesture of restraints by admonishing their youths on this dangerous path of perpetrating violence which they have resorted to’’.

STF also warned that people should note that it is only exercising restraint and not that it cannot bring the necessary force to bear on them. It therefore urged the general public to go about their business without fear as the STF is well-positioned to protect them.
The STF also said it has assisted the Fan Community, in Barikin Ladi local government area to recover their cows that were rustled in the early hours of yesterday, where about five cows were recovered while efforts are still on to recover the remaining 25.
It said the assistance of the troops was prompted by distress calls received from the community leaders. It said two people have been arrested in connection with the incident. It reassured the people that STF is determined to restore normalcy in all the areas in the state.
Jang spoke as the Solomon Lar-led Presidential Advisory Committee on Jos crisis set up in January this year submitted its interim report to Jonathan in the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday.

“I believe that with the additional forces sent in for deployment in all the various localities to ensure that lives and property are protected, peace will be achieved. As you know you can win a war, but you cannot win peace, not easily.
“Everything is being done to ensure that peace returns to Plateau State. We have started talking to various groups; particularly the Fulanis who have been living here (Plateau) for so many years”, he assured, adding “I cannot leave behind this kind of Plateau State as governor,” the governor said.

While reminiscing on his early lives in Plateau, Jang said, “I was born in a neighbourhood of the Fulanis. The neighbour of my father was a Fulani man and I grew up with his children and even went to tend his cows, and if you look at my age now, around 66, then you would understand how long the Fulanis have lived around the Berom and other indigenes of Plateau State.
Meanwhile, a statement from the office of the Spokesman of the Acting President said Jonathan while receiving the interim report assured that the Federal Government was determined to formulate crucial next steps to stem the tide of grievance and intractable violence in Jos and environs.

It said Jonathan, expressed concern over the resurgent crisis in the area and declared that “we just cannot continue like this”. He noted that the area is going through a period of aggression and lawlessness which the Federal Government is determined to bring to an end.

The Acting President was reported to have thanked the committee for hard work and commitment, and expressed hope that its final report would provide practical and workable solutions to the Jos crisis.

Earlier, chairman of the committee, Chief Solomon Lar, informed the Acting President that the full report would be ready soon, explaining that the committee still required the input of certain critical segments to finalise the document.

He commended the Federal Government for its open determination to put an end to the crisis in Jos, which he said is caused by years of mutual suspicion and mistrust among the people in the area

and what happened to other Jos report submitted since 1953?

yeye country, yeye people.

Is it a practical and pragmatic report or an academic report? Hmn. Why am I even bothering myself. Has any report on Jos crises been implemented? Let our leaders continue to decieve us and themselves. A day will definately come when our leaders will be on the recieving end.