Southern Group says 1,654 kinsmen killed, N970bn property lost to Jos crises since 1994

On 16 March, the Coalition of All Southerners Forum in Plateau State, a group representing the Igbo, Yoruba and Niger Delta peoples living in the state, reported that its members had lost over 1,654 people and property worth over N970 billion to the crisis in the state since 1994. The group called on the Federal Government to compensate the victims.

In a statement jointly signed by Chief Richard Wayas, President, Igbo Community Council; Chief Toye Ogunshuyi, President, Yoruba Community; Mr. John Tunde Oladipo, Co-ordinator of the Coalition; and read by Smart Irabor who is President-General, South-South Community in Plateau State, the group stated as follows:

“We deeply mourn the brutal killings of our sons and daughters numbering 630 Yoruba, 604 Igbo and 430 South/South totalling 1,654 people during the Jos crises from 1994 to date. Without any provocation or seeking political or geographical expansion, nor struggle for ownership of Jos, the three groups, from 1994 to date, lost property and houses estimated at over N970 billion: Yoruba (N450 billion), Igbo (N410 billion), while the South/South N110 billion respectively”.

It said the peoples of these three groups had been targets of unprovoked attacks during crises and called for “adequate compensation from the Federal Government for negligence in the discharge of its statutory duties, for not wading into the situation quickly and stopping the arbitrary killings and destruction of our people.”

The group called for the prosecution of all those indicted by the reports of past investigations into the crises in the state, and also for  release of the White Paper on the Report of the Chief Presidential Advisory Committee on the crises, which was led by Chief Solomon Lar.

Members of the group also expressed support for the planned neighbourhood watch outfit – Operation Rainbow – recently approved by the Federal Government. They said they hope this new outfit will complement the efforts of the police and the Special Task Force in maintaining security in the state.