FRESH violence has rocked parts of the North with at least 20 people feared killed in Jos North council area of Plateau State on Thursday. The state government last night imposed a dusk to dawn curfew consequently. Ten people also lost their lives in renewed Fulani cattle rearers and farmers' clash in two villages in Maradun Local Government of Zamfara State.
In Jos, scores of people were reportedly injured and houses, one of which was said to belong to a prominent traditional ruler in the state, were torched. Eye-witnesses said the crisis started at about 11.15 a.m. during the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward congresses.
Sources told Saturday Champion that trouble started when a group of people believed to be Hausa-Fulani youths protested over what they termed an attempt by their Christian counterparts to impose on them candidates loyal to a particular official of the council said to have earlier indicated interest to seek re-election.
The youths had reportedly vowed never to allow any Christian an influential position in the council again. Jos North Local Government, which includes Jos metropolis, had been a trouble spot since 1994, when it witnessed its first crisis between Christians and Moslems over what the Hausa-Fulani termed "marginalisation."
The September 7, 2001 civil disturbances in the state capital, which later spread to parts of the state, had roots from the council. Preparatory to the conduct of the ward, local and state congresses, the government had earlier announced on the state radio and television stations that adequate security measures had been put in place to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
One of the bleeding victims, who identified himself as Achom Bishong, told Saturday Champion that he was allegedly assaulted by some Hausa-Fulani at the Jos Central Mosque. "I was shouting and running to soldiers, while the Hausa youths were machetting me, but they did nothing to rescue me from their hands," he stated.
Students were hurriedly sent home as the crisis peaked while traders locked their stalls.
Already, a combined team of soldiers and policemen have taken over the area as they were seen patrolling the streets in armoured tanks. Fire service personnel were also spotted going round to put out fire in some houses.
Chief Medical Director of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr. Daniel Iya who spoke with newsmen said the hospital had received some corpses.Contacted on telephone from Lagos Thursday, evening, a female voice in the office of the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), who refused to identify herself despite our pressure, confirmed the crisis.
She also refused to disclose casualty figures, saying "everything is calm now." In Zamfara State, violence erupted between Adani Village, a predominantly Fulani cattle rearers' settlement, and Goran-Namaye, a Hausa community, following a minor squabble between a herdsman and a farmer,
The disagreement was said to have led to the hacking to death of the farmer. Confusion reportedly set in when news reached Goran-Namaye Village that one of their kinsmen was killed by a herdsman. They were said to have mobilised and stormed the Fulani settlement with bows and arrows and locally made guns.
In the ensuing fracas, 10 people were killed while several houses were razed. Hundreds of cows and other domestic animals were reportedly killed too. The swift intervention of the police was said to have saved the situation from spreading to other areas. Governor Ahmed Sani has already visited the area. The governor, who described the action of the two communities as barbaric, vowed to track down the perpetrators. the incident.