by ADAMU
Unidentified women react to the sight of dead bodies in Dogo Nahwa, Nigeria. PHOTO/Indian Express
In retrospect, one should have seen the latest clash in Jos coming. In November 2008 and January 2010, Hausa-Fulani were killed in operations in which they found the Plateau State government complicit, Governor Jonah Jang contemptuous, themselves without compensation, and without so much as a kind, soothing word. And while the people were bitterly complaining of police partisanship, Jang was praising the police for their loyalty, dedication and commitment to duty.
Following the November 2008 crisis in Jos, the Inspector-General of Police undertook a reorganization of the Plateau State Police Command. This action, which many expected would include a crackdown on partisan personnel, merely involved the transfer of some officers and men from Plateau to other commands.
Details of the reorganization were conveyed to the command in two letters from headquarters—SB: 4770/PMF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL. 1/50 of 21/11/2008 and CB: 4770/WEL/FHQ/ABJ/SUB. 1/3 of 26/11/2008. But on January 10, 2009, a few weeks after the postings, Jang wrote the IG requesting him to cancel the transfer of 60 affected policemen—seven inspectors, 23 sergeants, 16 corporals and 14 constables—all of whom, except for the sprinkling of a few names, were Berom. Jang said he “found them most loyal, dedicated and committed to their duties.” Astonishing as it might sound, the IG obliged him and all the transfers were cancelled.
Then we all woke up to the tragedy of Sunday. According to the police, what happened were reprisal killings by the Fulani retaliating for what happened to them in January. But according to Gregory Yenlong, Plateau State information commissioner, what happened at Dogo Nahauwa was ‘ethnic cleansing by Fulani against Berom.’ Jang himself said ‘some people came across the border of Plateau State and started attacking villages,’ and the Plateau State Christian Elders Forum said they came from Bauchi. All this is an improvement, because in January, words seemed to have failed all of them—they never told the world what happened at Kuru Karama and surrounding villages with the same passion.
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