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Psalm 122[7] Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.   Lamentations 3[17]  And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.   Isaiah 57[21] There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

There is a strong link between peace and prosperity…and it is God himself who says there is no peace for the wicked.  Perhaps the greatest wickedness is oppression…the oppression of the poor, the defenceless unborn child , oppression in the name of faith and resource oppression as nations are plundered.  Where there is no peace…the Bible says we forget prosperity. Surely, continued oppression delays the end of recession.

This article on the Jos Crisis in Nigeria was contributed by Mark Lipdo Program Coordinator – Stefanos Foundation, Jos, Nigeria and Evangelist Matthew Owojaiye, Chairman : Northern States Christian Elder’s Forum, Kaduna, Nigeria.

JOS, NIGERIA CRISIS 2010:  Account by Stefanos Response team.

Various accounts reveal that one Kabiru NEPA (as he is called in the area) a staff of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), brought in some over 200 Muslim men to rebuild his house on Sunday, 17th January, 2010. Kabiru’s house was one of those burnt during the 28th November 2008 crisis situated on one of the streets at Gindin – Atili, a street that was mostly affected during the November, 2008 crisis which left no building standing in the area, both of Non-Muslims and Muslims alike. Mallam Kabiru did not bring this project to the notice of the village head who when interviewed said he could have made it known to all that Muslim men would be working in the area. 200 muslim men on Sunday morning is not a common sight in this area since the last crisis, this certainly raised the tension in the area, he said. The builders working at the site did not help matters; report has it that they kept chanting intimidating noise, referring to Non-Muslims as “Arna” (meaning infidels)” knowing they may likely not support the reconstruction many of whom suffered so many losses in the last crisis and are too poor to rebuild the ruins. Tension mounted in the area and got out of control when the driver of the lorry hauling sand to the site got into a quarrel with one of the non – Muslims in the area. This attracted the Muslim workers and later resulted into attack on any non-Muslim sighted around and a woman, Anna Ayuba got badly injured.  Unknown to all, the chants of “Allah a’khabar” had attracted other Muslims to the area and worshippers in ECWA Church; about 500m away were attacked. The violence escalated in Yan-shanu and Congo Russia and got out of control with reports of fake soldiers appearing in these areas.

Stefanos Foundation gathered that when Law Enforcement arrived on the spot earlier at the heat of the incident, they could not do much to forestall the violence. An eye witness reported that when the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3rd Armored Division of the Nigerian Army, Jos, came to investigate the matter while inspecting the burnt down church, gun shots came from the nearby Muslim settlement, bringing down three Christian youths. The gunman was apprehended and handed over to the GOC but in the presence of the villagers, the man was set free. This made the villagers lose faith in the security operatives. 

Rev. Samuel Daji Riga of ECWA church Jos Jarawa, whose members were attacked in church and the church building completely burnt and partly demolished; reliably informed Stefanos that ‘I was still preaching in church that Sunday morning when one of the members of the church Boys Brigade rushed in to draw the attention of one of my elders outside, the elder quickly ran back to inform me of an impending attack by the Muslims. I immediately cut off my sermon and closed the service to enable our members return to their homes or any safe place. Unfortunately for us, before we could vacate the church premises, the attackers had arrived with their weapons. In a bid to escape, some of our members were injured by gun shots from the assailants. They later set the church ablaze and utterly destroyed everything in the church including the motor-bike of a member’ At the time of this report, we found an inscription boldly written on the wall of the church building – ‘Islam is 4 peace and Islam is the best’.

Mrs. Anna Yakubu, a victim of the unfortunate incident, told Stefanos that her son returned home after church service through the said construction site and reported that the workers at the site were busy chanting Allah Akbar and from their behaviour, he suspected something may go wrong. It was not so long then they heard the voice of the man who barely left their home calling on them to run. While attempting to do so, she was attacked with a stone at her forehead; she fell to the ground with blood all over her face. Her son, Ajik, could not escape the bullets of the assailants on his face. They are both receiving medical attention at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). Stefanos also interviewed Danjuma Mohammed, a Muslim, who was among those who were working on the construction site that day.  The situation that happened in Jos Jarawa on Sunday was quelled down on Monday, 18th January, 2010 and it looked like that was the end of it. But the news that spread, sparked up similar reactions at Bukuru where Muslims set ablaze Assemblies of God church and ECWA church around Gularandong and looted shops belonging to Christians. Non-Muslims also reported Muslims burning their houses at Bisichi and Fan in Barkin Ladi LGA. The conflict which has always been tolerated on religious grounds, soon turned chaotic, leaving the locals struggling to defend and protect their settlements. Similar attacks were later reported at Gyero Village, Kuru village near Hipang and Rahol-Kana (Ungwar Doki) near TCNN. Also reported were those of Pankshin and Mangu on Wednesday, 20th Jan. 2010 and Thursday, 21st Jan. 2010 respectively.

At the time of this report, mass burials had been carried out by government on Wednesday and Thursday, and as such, it is difficult to ascertain the number of casualties or deaths. However, many were seen receiving treatment at JUTH, Plateau Hospital and ECWA Evangel Hospital among others.   A 9 page report (with pictures ) can be downloaded by clicking here.     A 36 page final report has also been compiled.  Pictures have been removed in the Jos Crisis (Feb 2010) Final  report by Stefanos to make download easier.

“The Church in the Northern States of Nigeria is alive and vibrant. It has undergone several persecutions, churches burnt, believers killed and property destroyed…” Evangelist Matthew Owojaiye ( Author of Marginalised but not Broken: Experiences of Christians in Northern States of Nigeria)    Recent report on Religious Crisis in Northern Nigeria by Evangelist Owojaiye who is the Chairman : Northern States of Nigeria Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF)

I Corinthians 4: [12]  And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, .we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: [13]  Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

“Reasons have been proffered why the Christians in our time are being attacked.  It is all about Jesus Christ and His salvation.  Once Christians are silenced the gospel will not spread.  The harassment is also for the unstable to shrink back and be destroyed.  I believe “Wise as serpents and harmless as doves” should be our strategy.  But we should never take human life or harm anyone.  Christians need help to find ways and means of preventing massive loss of life during riots…we will be diligent, vigilant and self controlled under the severe persecution of the gospel…”  Dr P.S. Abdu (Nov. 2009)

“When comes the promised time…that war shall be no more,…oppression, lust, and crime shall flee thy face before?…” Lewis Hensley, 1867.

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Deut 31:6

Jesus Reigns forever…Worship and obey Him…our joy shall be full. Amen.

 To support Christians in Jos with financial donation, pls click

Bode Ososami, Mark Lipdo ( Stefanos foundation), Evangelist Matthew Owojaiye (NOSCEF)