Sharhazard (Shazzy) was the 'in' place then and there were always Unijos school parties at Plateau Hotels (PH). Those were the days of innocence. Today, all you here about Plateau are bombs, raids by Fulani herdsmen, Hausa and Berom altercations and sundry unsavoury tales.
A friend of mine whose parents reside at Bauchi brought me his wedding card recently and the wedding was billed to hold in Bauchi on July 7, 2012. He called two weeks ago to say that guests were not comfortable with the security situation in Bauchi and it was agreed that the wedding be moved to Jos which was relatively calmer. Then last week, he called to say that his parents are insisting it has to be Bauchi and he's yet to decide where the final venue would be. How did we get to this sorry pass? We're looking for a safe venue to hold weddings? In Nigeria?!
Today, a serving Senator representing Plateau North Senatorial District, Senator Gyang Dalyop Dantong died at a funeral for those killed in the recurrent Jos crisis. It was also reported that Hon. Gyang Fulani, Chief Whip of the Plateau State House of Assembly and several others died at the same time. While initial reports put cause of death as bullets from Fulani Herdsmen who attacked the mourners at the funeral, Senator Dantong's family said he died of heart attack occasioned by shock at the tragedy going on around him. Whichever way, he was a victim of the violence currently ravaging the North.
II find reports of AK-47 wielding fulani herdsmen a bit difficult to digest. I grew up in the North and I'm used to fulani herdsmen. Those people have no business with guns. The most dangerous 'weapons' they carry are long sticks and an assortment of local charms. Where did they learn to shoot? Who supplied them with arms? What are they fighting for?
The primary purpose of government is the protection of lives and property and it is obvious that that purpose has failed in Jos. Note that there is a State of Emergency in place in these Local Governments where these atrocities took place and the Military via the Joint Task Force are supposed to be patrolling the area. How then did these 'herdsmen' unleash terror for two days in a row unchecked and unrestricted?
Kaduna is a ghost town, Bauchi is groaning under the burden of insecurity. Adamawa, Kano and Yobe are all writhing under multiple terror attacks. Commerce, Education and normal life is fast fading. What is going on? Who is responsible for all this?
One thing is clear from all this. This is beyond terror. There are political elements to this madness. Some people are benefiting economically, politically, sadistically and darkly from all these carnages and it is in their best interest to sustain it.
But as surely as the sun will rise in the morning, I know that those who murder sleep will soon look for sleep and not find it. The fire they are stocking will doubtless consume them. They are sowing winds, they can't escape the coming whirlwind. It will swallow them all.
Do not despair Nigerians. These too shall soon pass.
@hartng.
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