http://questionmarkmag.com/2010/06/an-eye-witness-account-of-the-most-recent-motor-bike-crisis-in-jos/

At about 8:30am today Monday 7th June 2010, the peaceful Jos City witnessed another pandemonium as the Hausa-Fulani boys and men took to the streets, protesting against the Armed Forces Men who had gone out to implement the policy against the use of motorbikes for commercial purpose in the township.

Few minutes after the joint team of the armed forces had gone away, a huge army of Hausa-Fulani men and boys started breaking bottles, throwing stones, asking passers-by of their religions etc. As if the security forces were informed, they returned immediately to calm the angry mob but instead of calm, a resistance was put forth and the armed forces resulted to the use of tear gas to disperse them.

About an hour later, a young Hausa man brought out a knife from his bosom, walked close to a passing vehicle and stabbed a Policeman twice on the chest, just opposite the ECWA Good news Church at Terminus area. The Policeman was only sitting in the front seat, beside the driver of the Jeep he was in. The attacker simply cleaned his knife on his trouser right before us, later opened his long caftan and put his knife back into the safe around his waist. People took to their heels immediately while the driver drove off to an unknown destination with his wounded and dying Police passenger. People who ran into Mr. Biggs restaurant for safety began to share diverse opinions about the government orders and the resultant violent protest. Some were of the view that there ought to be a final warning about the ban of motorbike before the armed forces members took to the streets at terminus this morning. Others were of the opinion that there had been enough warning before this morning’s implementation.

*

« Previous Next »
1 2 3 4 5Casualty


Rather, the violent group in the city will always react against anything against their wish. Others fully supported the government policy over the use of motorbike because of the criminal activities of the users, including robbery, kidnapping etc. Also mentioned were issues of recklessness of the users in the township arrears. Others added that most of the bike users are the mercenaries hired into Jos City for the purpose of reinforcement in their battles against their opponents. Others were a bit sentimental arguing that the bike users are neither indigenes nor settlers on the Plateau, so they have constituted both security and economic risks on the Plateau, adding that as soon as the motor bike became a means of transport in Jos, there was a huge influx of strange people from neighboring towns like Lafia, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Adamawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Maiduguri and some were not even Nigerians etc. Subsequently, there were gunshots into the air by the members of the armed forces before there was a reasonable calm. However, all who have locked up their shops never went back to trade.

A few strange things to note there today: The protest was like an ethnic protest. It was surprising that only the Hausa-Fulanis were the tribes protesting and no other tribe was notably involved in the protest. It was also surprising that notable politicians and people in government claimed ignorance of what was going on when they were called on phone. Also to note is the fact that the Federal Capital Territory and other states like Benue, Rivers, Lagos, Edo etc have taken similar measures about the use of the motor bike and there was no such resistance, but why is it a different ball game here on the Plateau?

There are a few interesting things to note today in all of the episodic uproar: the first to note is the immediate response by the members of Mobile Police who quickly dispersed the angry mob with tear gas. Another interesting thing to note is that it is gradually getting clearer who is fighting on the Plateau and who is aggrieved. It is gradually getting clearer that religion is not the issue but other deadly but hidden agenda of some invisible cabals. It was also noted during the free discussions that if the State Governor had made an announcement before the task force went out today, some sect of religion would have mobilized another religious war, as usual, to counter the government policy.

In a little while, we would have witnessed the worship buildings touched and people killed and maimed for no just cause. Some people also suspected that the unrest was intended to have the suspended curfew restored in order to claim political instability, which may eventually lead to the declaration of a “state of emergency”.

Jos is under a spell im sure

Let me guess. The hausa-fulanis are the mostly affected by the ban. Poster yes or no?