Yakubu Busari
The Concerned Jos Youths Association (COJOYA) is a coalition of nineteen independent youth-based organizations in Jos, whose primary objective is the promotion of peace and social development.
The Chairman Barr Buhari Ibrahim Shehu shehu and Sadiq Umar Sabo Secretary-General in a press statement frowned at the unholy killings in plateau state.
COJOYA wishes to register its deep worry over the recent happenings in Jos North, Bassa, and other parts of Plateau State and hereby condemned in very strong terms, the recent senseless killings across the local government areas. Most disturbing is the recent incident of yesterday, 14th August 2021 which saw the attack of vehicles conveying Muslims to Ikare, Ondo state after attending the annual zikr to commemorate the beginning of the Islamic new year at the residence of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, in Bauchi, where the commuters were intercepted, profiled, attacked and summarily executed in the most ignoble manner, including using stones to smash their skulls while leaving many others with various degree of injuries and at the same time, the Yoruba drivers of the vehicles were spared because they were all Christians. More worrisome is the fact that the assailants took to their social media handles to celebrate their heinous acts.
Gentlemen of the Press, recall that on Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021, two vehicles conveying cattle were intercepted, attacked, and set ablaze at the same Gada Biyu/Rukuba road area of Jos. The drivers and other persons on board were believed to have been killed, cattle rustled and the vehicles set ablaze.
Also kindly recall that on the same Rukuba Road, sometime in 2011, hundreds of Muslim Worshipers were attacked, killed, roasted and their flesh preyed upon by the youths of the area when they went to pray the Eid-al Adha at their designated Eid ground.
, It is a known fact that, as a result of the concerted efforts of the Plateau State government and its agencies, notably the Plateau State Peace Building Agency and other stakeholders, the state has enjoyed relative peace in recent years. This is indeed a welcome and commendable development. It is, however saddening that some people are hell bent on dragging us back to those gory dark days where wanton destruction and killings reigned supreme.
The Press statement accredited to some self-acclaimed associations for the development of Plateau natives is a clear indication that some unscrupulous elements are hell-bent on further fuelling the crises rather than quenching the fire. We call on the Government, as well as the security agencies to look into the activities of this kind of people and do the needful so that peace will continue to reign. The Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives (PIDAN) in its press release notoriously approved of, the heinous crimes and even cried wolf where none existed by downplaying the daylight murder of those 23 persons making it look like they were aggressors while in actual material facts, they were intercepted, profiled and murdered in cold blood in the most horrible and horrendous manner.
As a youth group, we call on our members and other youths across religious and ethnic divides not to allow themselves to be used as tools of destruction. We must remain resolute to peace and peaceful co-existence for our collective interests and development.
While we most sincerely commend the efforts of the Federal and Plateau States Governments, and Government security agencies, particularly men and officers of the Operation Safe Haven, the Nigeria Police, and other agencies for their prompt and timely intervention to nip the problem in the bud, we wish to reiterate that perpetrators of all the attacks should be brought to justice to forestall future occurrences and to ensure justice to the deceased, their families and to the general public.
We equally wish to commend the Jasawa elders, religious leaders, youth leaders as well the various private security outfits (The Vigilante, Neighborhood Watch, Community Police, and others) for suing for restraint and prevailing on the youth not to take laws into their hands.
We also commend the youths for their unmatched responsibility of heeding to the calls for restraint, even in the face of heightened provocation.
On a final note, COJOYA commiserates with the entire families of those who lost their loved ones in both Bassa, Jos North, Riyom, and other parts of the state for this irreparable and painful loss and pray God to grant the wounded a speedy recovery.
Finally, we wish to call on the government at all levels to ensure that all perpetrators of these unwholesome attacks and all other attacks are arrested and brought to justice that will serve as a deterrence to others.
