Like many Jos residents, she has watched with dismay as her beloved city continues on the freefall into an abyss of mindless violence. Displaying rare courage, she represents the honest, hardworking and upright and peace-loving citizen who believes we can win the war against terror, as well as religious and ethnic bigotry. In this short chat, she shares the pulse of the city; the fears and hopes with Morenike Taire.
Why move to Jos, of all places?
I needed to relocate to a neutral quiet place
And Jos was a ‘neutral quiet place?
Jos still remains a very beautiful place with affordable standard of living compared to Abuja
As a wellness expert how can people keep some psychological balance in this environment?
Not really psychological issues: there’s been relative peace until the recent bomb blasts. Life seemed to have returned to normal. The insecurity is not peculiar to Jos. Some people relocated from Jos only to meet their death in other parts of the country like Abuja. A lady relocated from Jos only to be blasted to death in the Abacha barracks bomb blast in Abuja
The good thing is that we in Jos are more security conscious because of what we have gone through
But how security conscious can you be, and why do people continue to stay?
Jos is a gorgeous, lovely natural beauty with a matchless temperate weather. No one who has lived here wants to move. There’s a lot of relocation within the town itself.
Well in Jos, in vulnerable areas like churches people are extra careful more than other towns. Most of them do not admit hand bags and cars into the premises.
A lot of people with links with Jos are heartbroken with developments in the last few years. Is that the case with you?
Everyone who used to know Jos will be heartbroken at the polarization of Christians and Muslims, the devastation, the insecurity. There is not much more to say.
You have had encounters with actual people affected by bombings and other violence. Can you share some experiences?
My friend lost her brother who came to school in Unijos (University of Jos). He and his friend were caught in the riot at the old terminus market. His friend escaped, but he was not found, never found. I met a young guy whose mother, a widow lost her only means of livelihood to the violence and had to relocate to Lagos, as she had family there.
My parish priest was saying Mass at Fatima Catholic Cathedral when the mob arrived. He quickly went to ring the bell to alert people of the danger. the mob set the priest house on fire, shot the priest, poured petrol on him to set him ablaze, but a lady security appeared from behind and shot at all of them. Their corpses fell on him. He was carried with the corpses to JUTH (Jos University Teaching Hospital) thinking he was dead.
There was also a bus driver and conductor that were forcefully driving passengers to the area where Muslims were killing Christians; a young passenger, risked his life by taking off his shirt and holding the driver from behind which forced the bus off the road. That was how they were saved.
What are your ideas/suggestions about restoring peace to the city?
For peace to return, first education of the populace is crucial. The next generation is growing up to believe that Muslims and Christians are mortal enemies. Also, there has to be serious commitment on security from the government. For example, hours before the last bomb blast, the police had been notified of the mysterious car, yet nothing was done to prevent the carnage.
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