Abdul Mutallib Muktar
Rikkos.
The bitterly created and frightening memories in Plateau State, particularly in the great city of Jos, without any iota of doubt, were indelible, regrettable and painfully trying. Those sorrowfully scaring days landed Jos and Plateau into a chamber of horror; people from other states were earnestly afraid to be at any part of the state. Those miserable and nightmarish experiences characterized by genocide, massacre and large scale destructions were doubtlessly not unconnected with the disruption of political, economic and social developments in the state. I oftentimes use to imagine what the state would/could had become without the eruption of any crisis. It is a well known fact that the past is an unbreakable mirror; whenever one needs to make up his/her face, a clean mirror is needed. Similarly, when one needs to adjust his present and set a concrete future, he/she must trace back to history. Though, it is said: what had passed is past already, and therefore, should be ignored, the future is what matters. But, it is worth-knowing that, for every general rule, there must be an exception.
Really too young to recall the exact memories of Jos and Yelwan Shendam crises; I was in my tender age then. I could hardly understand and feel the disheartening anguish Jos experienced in such monstrously macabre moments. I could slightly recall in a rainy day when my mother held my hands and that of my brother while carrying my younger one along strapped on her back, halfway running to Gangare as booms of bullets were at their crescendo. That was in 2001. I could not actually tell enough from what I personally experienced. But as I grew up, I was narrated the tale by elders and parents. Those in my age bracket could not believe the shocking scenario too until in the last days of November, 2008. The atmosphere changed from sky blue to artificially made darkened smoke of burning tyres, cars, shops and houses. The early morning of that day, we got woke up by a musical rainfall of bullets not by the usual cockcrow and down call to prayer in the mosques. I wish and pray never to experience such days of psychological gloominess and dejection. My eyes had seen a poison which prevented me from falling into a peaceful slumber. It was then when my eyes got exposed to seeing dead bodies on the road, burnt men on the path, human organs like abattoir. It was then I saw a man had his private part mercilessly damaged by a bullet, women with their babies inhumanly killed. Young children were not left behind. Most of Jos residents regretted being residing in Jos and the state in general at that trying time.
That was not the end. In the middle days of January, 2010, another devastating experience re-occurred. Crisis! Death! Crisis! Death were the main features of those days. "An Fara!" "An Fara!" "It begins!" "It begins!" -- the crisis begins. Upon hearing this chorus chanted, everyone would begin to run pell mell, the market would be empty, vehicles would stop moving and the city would be in a dead silence.
In March same year, there was an irresistible attack in Dogo Na Hauwa as well as other villages of Plateau. No exception among the victims: men, women and children were killed. So shocking that a pregnant woman was seen having her belly mercilessly cut by a seeming dagger. In fact, infants were seen with their heads cut into numbers. Nobody had ever thought Plateau state could be out of that chamber of horror. We saw on the Plateau what we used to watch on television happening in Syria, Iraq and Palestine. Many people temporarily migrated to their paternal and maternal states for fear of genocide. My grand-parents had also suggested for our migration to Kano but we had to wait and see what miracle would God in His greatest Might and Strength would do to save Plateau. The State and Federal Governments could not bring order at the most needed time. So unfortunate that the children who would definitely become the leaders of tomorrow were raised along the line of ethnic and religious bigotry.
Praise be to the Lord of Mankind. The peace which we tattered by ourselves, all in effort to disintegrate ourselves out of ourselves has become a goal everyone of us is trying to achieve. We thank God that peace is regained in Plateau State, particularly in Jos. The state has now regained its motto: Home of Peace And Tourism. A Muslim can now safely gallivant in Gada Biyu, Anguwar Rukuba e.t.c. A Christian can also move pleasurably and free-mindedly to every nook and cranny of Rikkos, Gangare, Anguwar Rogo etc. I plead with my fellow youths, children, elders and leaders from all religions and ethnic groups in general to support peaceful coexistence and harmonious interaction in Jos and Plateau in particular.
God bless Jos!
God bless Plateau State!
God bless Nigeria and its people!
Rikkos.
The bitterly created and frightening memories in Plateau State, particularly in the great city of Jos, without any iota of doubt, were indelible, regrettable and painfully trying. Those sorrowfully scaring days landed Jos and Plateau into a chamber of horror; people from other states were earnestly afraid to be at any part of the state. Those miserable and nightmarish experiences characterized by genocide, massacre and large scale destructions were doubtlessly not unconnected with the disruption of political, economic and social developments in the state. I oftentimes use to imagine what the state would/could had become without the eruption of any crisis. It is a well known fact that the past is an unbreakable mirror; whenever one needs to make up his/her face, a clean mirror is needed. Similarly, when one needs to adjust his present and set a concrete future, he/she must trace back to history. Though, it is said: what had passed is past already, and therefore, should be ignored, the future is what matters. But, it is worth-knowing that, for every general rule, there must be an exception.
Really too young to recall the exact memories of Jos and Yelwan Shendam crises; I was in my tender age then. I could hardly understand and feel the disheartening anguish Jos experienced in such monstrously macabre moments. I could slightly recall in a rainy day when my mother held my hands and that of my brother while carrying my younger one along strapped on her back, halfway running to Gangare as booms of bullets were at their crescendo. That was in 2001. I could not actually tell enough from what I personally experienced. But as I grew up, I was narrated the tale by elders and parents. Those in my age bracket could not believe the shocking scenario too until in the last days of November, 2008. The atmosphere changed from sky blue to artificially made darkened smoke of burning tyres, cars, shops and houses. The early morning of that day, we got woke up by a musical rainfall of bullets not by the usual cockcrow and down call to prayer in the mosques. I wish and pray never to experience such days of psychological gloominess and dejection. My eyes had seen a poison which prevented me from falling into a peaceful slumber. It was then when my eyes got exposed to seeing dead bodies on the road, burnt men on the path, human organs like abattoir. It was then I saw a man had his private part mercilessly damaged by a bullet, women with their babies inhumanly killed. Young children were not left behind. Most of Jos residents regretted being residing in Jos and the state in general at that trying time.
That was not the end. In the middle days of January, 2010, another devastating experience re-occurred. Crisis! Death! Crisis! Death were the main features of those days. "An Fara!" "An Fara!" "It begins!" "It begins!" -- the crisis begins. Upon hearing this chorus chanted, everyone would begin to run pell mell, the market would be empty, vehicles would stop moving and the city would be in a dead silence.
In March same year, there was an irresistible attack in Dogo Na Hauwa as well as other villages of Plateau. No exception among the victims: men, women and children were killed. So shocking that a pregnant woman was seen having her belly mercilessly cut by a seeming dagger. In fact, infants were seen with their heads cut into numbers. Nobody had ever thought Plateau state could be out of that chamber of horror. We saw on the Plateau what we used to watch on television happening in Syria, Iraq and Palestine. Many people temporarily migrated to their paternal and maternal states for fear of genocide. My grand-parents had also suggested for our migration to Kano but we had to wait and see what miracle would God in His greatest Might and Strength would do to save Plateau. The State and Federal Governments could not bring order at the most needed time. So unfortunate that the children who would definitely become the leaders of tomorrow were raised along the line of ethnic and religious bigotry.
Praise be to the Lord of Mankind. The peace which we tattered by ourselves, all in effort to disintegrate ourselves out of ourselves has become a goal everyone of us is trying to achieve. We thank God that peace is regained in Plateau State, particularly in Jos. The state has now regained its motto: Home of Peace And Tourism. A Muslim can now safely gallivant in Gada Biyu, Anguwar Rukuba e.t.c. A Christian can also move pleasurably and free-mindedly to every nook and cranny of Rikkos, Gangare, Anguwar Rogo etc. I plead with my fellow youths, children, elders and leaders from all religions and ethnic groups in general to support peaceful coexistence and harmonious interaction in Jos and Plateau in particular.
God bless Jos!
God bless Plateau State!
God bless Nigeria and its people!
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