By Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos

Plateau State which prides itself as the “Home of Peace and Tourism” is fast becoming a breeding ground for terrorists as acts of terrorism occur in the State almost on daily basis. With the isolated killings in the hinterlands to bombings in Jos, the capital city, residents now feel unsafe and helpless, having to watch their backs wherever they go.

Once upon a time, the city had its people bonded in unity. Not any more. It has been polarised along religious and ethnic lines for over a decade with mutual suspicion and peace of the graveyard being the order of the day.

This has been the case since 2010 when a minor explosion occurred in the Dadin Kowa area of Jos South Local Government Area where two youths were experimenting with an Improvised Explosive Devise, IED and got injured in the process. Then to the explosion which cut short many lives on December 24 of the same year at Angwan Rukuba area of Jos North Local Government Area.

There were also pockets of explosions in churches and football viewing centres in the city. Residents of the city are still counting their losses from the blasts of May 20, 2014 at Terminus/Abuja markets and the most recent ones at a restaurant. Churches and mosques have not been spared in the last few weeks.

Although many lives and property worth millions of Naira have been lost, there is no sign yet that the tragic trend will abate soon. In fact, the question on every lip now is “where next?”

Patriotic citizens, irrespective of tribe or religion, have expressed concern over this worrisome situation. They are appealing to perpetrators to give peace a chance, not only in Jos city but the entire Plateau State so that the state can have tangible development.

Tales of pain, despair

Among those who expressed concern at the turn of events is a victim of the recent bomb attack in a mosque at Dilimi (Yan-Taya), Yahya Useni.  The 50-year-old farmer, who is currently receiving treatment at the Plateau Specialists Hospital, Jos, spoke with difficulty as a result of the excruciating pains he was going through. He called on those in the habit of causing pains to other Nigerians to desist from such dastardly act.

According to him: “I have been hearing of bomb blasts in Jos but I didn’t expect to be a victim. I went to the mosque to listen to the ministration when we heard gunshots  outside. As we were trying to find out the source of the commotion, I felt a sharp pain on my ribs and hand; I touched the places and felt something like liquid.

When I discovered that it was blood, I became confused. I knew I fell on the ground but I cannot remember what happened after that. But when I woke up, I saw myself in a theatre where the doctors operated on me and brought out the sharp objects in my body.

“Right now, I am very weak and the doctor said I need blood. Look at where these wicked people sent me to. I want the government to bring this kind of evil to an end because the people who are affected are those who do not even know what is happening in this country”.

A car dealer who gave his name as Ugochukwu was another victim of the explosions. Ugochukwu who resides in the Apata area of the city said “it was the hand of God that delivered me.” Narrating his story, Ugochukwu said he got a call at about 8.30 pm to meet someone who needed a car  at Bauchi Park along Bauchi Road.

“As I met with the man, he told me he was hungry, that he has not eaten anything after breaking the fast. I took him to the restaurant where the bomb exploded. What saved me was that I wasn’t eating with him. I went right inside to wait for him while he ate outside.

As I was waiting, I started checking my phone. Less than five minutes of sitting there, I heard a loud sound and something hard hit me on my leg. Subconsciously, I knew it was a bomb blast but I just sat there.

After some minutes, I tried to find my way out; that was when people who came to rescue victims, saw me and helped me to a nearby clinic. I was later taken to the Bingham University Teaching Hospital, (Jankwano) where I was treated,” he narrated.

Ugochukwu who had been treated and discharged was full of lamentations. “The man I took to eat was not lucky as he died from the incident,” he said with regrets. He advised those behind the bombing to sheathe their swords.

“Please whoever knows anything about these bomb blasts should stop. This thing has left many families in pains, yet those behind it do not care. They should repent, if not, the wrath of God will not  only be upon them but also their generations,” he cursed.

Salama Ibrahim sat with her baby in the premises of the Plateau Hospital as she attended to her father, Alhaji Ibrahim who was injured by the blast in the mosque. She described the incident as “an evil act committed by people who do not know God.”

Her words; “See our Baba is here. He went to the Mosque that Sunday and was affected by the bomb blast. The doctors operated on him before he was transferred to the Ward. Look at the pains he is going through at his age because people who do not know God are on the loose.

Allah will judge them. Thank God the hospital has not asked us for money; if they do, where will we get the money to pay for his bills? I am begging those who are behind this evil to stop because there is so much pain in the land.”

Efforts by Vanguard Features, VF, to speak with  Alhaji Ibrahim proved abortive as he was still sleeping when  VF visited him in Ward 3 where he is receiving treatment.

Vigilante,  neighbourhood watch to the rescue?

In a bid to stem the occurrence of such disasters, the representative of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Suleiman Kwande called for the strengthening of the activities of local Vigilante and Neighbourhood Watch to make them more effective in assisting conventional security agencies to curb criminal activities.

Kwande presented security equipments and two 12-seater mini buses to members of the vigilante groups and and faith-based uniform aid groups. He also sponsored a sensitisation training for the groups. Other items distributed were metal detectors, rain coats, torch lights, reflector vests and whistles.

In their separate comments, Messrs Christopher Zita of the Boy Scouts and Kabiru Muhammed of Jama’tu Nasril Islam, JNI, commended  Mr. Kwande for providing sensitive gadgets that would help in fighting insurgency and other criminal offences in the state.

The duo called on both Muslims and Christians in the state that to unite to fight the evil acts of insurgents.

Agents of terror

The State Governor, Simon Lalong, described the recurring incidents as a reality of “the security challenge we are contending with in the face of the unrelenting attempts by agents of terror who do not share in our people’s value of Faith.”

In a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Emmanuel Nanle,  the Governor described the fact that no life was lost  in the blast at ECWA, Tundun Wada as an act of God. “That the blast came without a casualty despite the magnitude of the explosion is a testimony of the fact that God is in the business of bringing to an end this reign of terror over the land.

The Governor is encouraging all citizens not to despair but to intensify vigilance in all places of daily activities, while assuring that government would not rest on its oars and that together with the ongoing efforts at the National Level, Boko Haram and all agents of death would be brought to their knees,” the statement said.