Press Release
Time of Release: Immediate
The West Africa Network for Peacebuilding Nigeria on behalf of its over 300 member organisations spread across the six geo political zone wishes to express deepest concern and dismay at the recent unprovoked attack on the people of Dogo Na Hauwa Community of Jos South Local Government Area, Plateau State. An attack reported to have been perpetuated in the early hours of Sunday 7th of March 2010 by suspected hoodlums. This unfortunate incident recorded a reported cumulative death of over 300 women and children making it the highest occurrence of gender related death at a single incident in the history of violent conflicts with ethno-religious undertones in northern Nigeria.
The attack has been alleged in some quarters as a reprisal attack for the killing of Hausa-Fulanis in Kuru during the January 2010 crisis. This crisis has aggravated and complicated the ongoing humanitarian crises and insecurity in Plateau State following the aftermath of January 17th and 20th crises that claimed over 200 lives and left over 10,000 displaced in the state
The Network condemns this recent renewal of violence and attacks on women, children especially as the State is passing through the trauma of the January 2010 crisis. As we empathize with the Government, citizens and residents of Plateau State, we express concern on reported inability of stationed security operatives to quickly respond to transmitted early warning threats which led to the massacre in Dogo Na Hauwa Community especially in view of the subsisting dusk to dawn curfew of 6 p.m to 6.am in the State.
The Network applauds the Peace Conference held in Jos on Monday 8th of March which sets the platform for dialogue and opportunities for reconciliation facilitated by the State government and supported by relevant civil society organizations.
WANEP Nigeria therefore reiterates its call for the following:
1 The need for increased sense of responsibility and commitment to security and order in Plateau State and other states in Northern Nigeria to forestall further reprisal attacks.
2 An immediate set up of a task force consisting of an all involving Stakeholders committee by the State Government as an outcome of the peace conference to embark on rapid assessment of the immediate and remote cause of the attack which will be harmonized by the reports of the different constituted commissions on the 2008 crises in the state towards an effective resolution mechanism.
3 A comprehensive program on arms control with a view to managing proliferation of illegal arms and production of locally made arms in Plateau state.
4 Adequate care and provision of immediate needs of Internally Displaced Persons especially women and children
5 Proper fumigation and sanitation of the community to prevent an outbreak of disease in the community.
6 A proper judicial action to be taken on arrested culprits adequately prosecuted to serve as deterrence to other.
7 Inter-ethnic joint problem solving platforms should be created with the inclusion of all community leaderships in Jos Metropolis to address the core grievances fuelling the conflict and also discuss the issue of respect for cultural and traditional institutions and leadership of the state.
8 The development of an early warning and response mechanisms by relevant government agencies in partnership with women’s groups, traditional institutions, civil society organisations and faith based institutions to proactively respond to causal factors of ethno religious violence in Plateau State.
9 Community policing should be integrated and part of network based community response to emerging threats of insecurity in partnership with the Nigerian Police and the National Civil Defence Corps.
10 A constitutional review of the ambiguity of citizenship by the National Assembly to provide clarity on the issue of “indigene”/”settler” which has been a major contributor to the violent cycle of conflict in Plateau State.
Ifeanyi Okechukwu Barrister Uche Durueke
National Network Coordinator Director, Communication and Publicity