Reflections on the Violence in Nigeria

By Nwosu Chinelo Sylvia

It is hard to live in a society where being an indigene matters more than being a citizen when it comes to your rights to enjoy certain privileges at the local, state and federal levels. Jos is the capital of Plateau, a state in the Northern region of Nigeria.

Since the January 2010 episode of a religious crisis, which resulted in the loss of many lives, the army has been in charge of security in Jos and other parts of Plateau State. Unfortunately, in the early hours of Sunday morning 7th March 2010, people living in three villages in a community near Jos were shot and butchered in cold blood. Causalities were mostly women and children; women were hacked down as they tried to cover and protect their children with their bodies. Little babies were snatched from their mothers and thrown into the burning flames set by these monstrous attackers.

These were defenceless, unprotected people who died without knowing why or how. Some were butchered in their beds while many more were killed while trying to flee from the attackers, people who feel their victims do not deserve to live and do not deserve the lives they have.

In a nation where its democracy is very fragile, calling for a military state of emergency in yet another federal state in the country has the effect of increasing scepticism towards the future of Nigeria remaining a democratic nation. In three years, three similar killings have taken place, but no one has been prosecuted.
This recent killing have left some unanswered questions in the minds of the Nigerian citizens. Who killed them? Why? What motive? Accusing fingers are pointing towards the military, the politicians, community leaders, and religious extremist groups.