I completed my secondary school education in Jos and the time I spent there was very memorable and would qualify as one of my best teenage experiences. The memories of crisscrossing Jos town to the patisserie for cakes and sweets, to getting dropped off at the shops for a few hours so we could feast our eyes and buy something with our meager allowance, are still fresh almost three decades later. The school I attended has been in existence in Jos for 76 years and like most of my other schoolmates, I dreamt of one day sending my own children to the same school. Sadly, civil unrest in Jos and Plateau State, generally, has made that a non-viable option. On the morning of June 25, 2018, I woke up to this post on my alumni setâs WhatsApp group: âPls inform any person going to Jos now that the road is not good. They are killing people at Anguldi roundabout close to grand cereals company. Pls, forward to save a life.â And of course, panic sets in because we still have friends living in Jos. We still have friends whose families are living in Jos. We have friends who have returned to Plateau State to take advantage of its unique climate in Nigeria to grow strawberries, mangoes, roses and other plants that thrive in that climate. If only a WhatsApp message could have saved the lives of the citizens that were brutally murdered in Plateau State, then it would have been in our power as citizens to save them. Young, old, women and men, brutally slaughtered, dreams cut short, and destinies unfulfilled. Our President responded that the events in Plateau State were regrettable. What does that mean? What is the regret about? Is this an admission that the security of lives and property in Nigeria has not been given the attention it deserves by the government? Is it the lack of seriousness with which the government is dealing with the ongoing killings of innocent Nigerians? Is it the lack of accountability of the heads of our security agencies that is regrettable? What exactly is the regret about? The first of such attacks is regrettable; the second one could be regrettable as well; but after a series of sustained attacks with no serious effort to address the situation and hold liable persons accountable, regrettable is not the first word that comes to my mind. The President also blamed the situation on politicians. But who are these politicians and so-called agents of destabilisation who cannot be apprehended and brought to justice for their crimes against the nation and its citizens? Reports from the Presidentâs visit to Plateau State say that he said the killings in Zamfara were more than the number of deaths recorded in Plateau and Benue states. When did this become a popularity contest? Every citizen in Nigeria has a constitutional right to life and it rests on the government to vindicate those rights. Whether it is one or a hundred unlawful taking of the life of a Nigerian citizen, it is one too many. Do we just pay lip service to the principle of the sanctity of human life? That is probably a rhetorical question. Every Nigerian life is important and there should never be a time when we are comparing body counts in this context. It is like dancing on the graves of the innocent lives lost. We have also been told by the President that this should not be seen as a religious crisis. It is difficult to toe that line with Mr. President. But then, what is it? Whether it is a religious crisis or not, it is a manifestation of something amiss that needs to be addressed and the government which came with the strong talk on security has failed to deliver. It is difficult to ignore the religious hue to this violence when you have groups putting out statements about fulfilling a destiny bestowed on Uthman Dan Fodio which was obstructed by the British, or that nothing will be able to save those raising their voices against âusâ and Allah. A chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) released a statement saying that the Plateau attacks were reprisals for the killing of some hundred cows. A group that comes out to give excuses for the unlawful actions of its members should also be made to take legal responsibility for the actions of those members. The Fulanis have a traditional way of life. And as much as possible society holds onto its traditional customs and values. However, when the expression of those customs and values begins to infringe on the rights of others, it is time to take a second look to see how we can advance. Nigerian law recognises customs and traditions with the limit. The law says that where custom is unreasonable and repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience, it is unenforceable. Tradition and culture cannot continue to be an excuse for this behaviour that threatens the existence of other Nigerians. For us to live in peace and tranquillity there must be some give and take. Nigeria is sick! A cancer of violence is spreading and the government seems either unable or unwilling to treat this cancer. Neither is good. There can be no political and economic reforms and development without a secure environment. Enough of the empty placating words every time lives are needlessly lost to violence. It is time to take decisive action.]]>
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