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Jos Crisis: American Top Officials Sue for Resolution
- By Williams Ekanem
- Published March 15th, 2010
- Washington File
- Unrated
TOP government officials in the United States have variously commented on the latest religious crisis in Jos, Plateau State, all united to see a quick resolution of the pestering crisis.
Besides the policy statement issued in Abuja by the U.S Embassy in Nigeria, virtually every top official of the Department of State in Washington D.C has used the opportunity of a public functionto make open remarks condemning the crisis and calling on the Nigerian government to act fast in quelling the crisis. Barely 24 hours after the crisis which claimed several lives, U.S Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton while receiving the Gabonese President Ali Bongo in Washington D.C, took time out to comment on the crisis.
In her second sentence at the meeting, the U.S. secretary of State said, “Before I comment on our meeting, though, I wish to express our concern for the tragic loss of life in Nigeria. We continue to urge all parties to exercise restraint and seek constructive means for addressing the cycle of violence in Plateau State. The Nigerian Government should ensure that the perpetrators of acts of violence are brought to justice under the rule of law and that human rights are respected as order is restored.”
For the second time in the week, while presenting the 2009 Country Report on Human Right, Michael Posner, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor said that And finally, we continue to monitor – and this is not in 2008 but recent weeks – the violence last weekend in Nigeria and call on all parties and all communities there to work together and to prevent an escalation of that violence.
Regardless, from the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI condemned the “atrocious” mayhem, adding his voice to a chorus of international revulsion over the slaughter.
In his weekly general audience, Benedict offered condolences to the victims of the “atrocious violence causing bloodshed in Nigeria” and urged civil and religious leaders “to work towards security and peaceful co-existence” since “violence does not resolve conflicts but only increases the tragic consequences.”
Meanwhile, Pope Benedict XVI condemned the “atrocious” mayhem, adding his voice to a chorus of international revulsion over the slaughter.
In his weekly general audience, Benedict offered condolences to the victims of the “atrocious violence causing bloodshed in Nigeria” and urged civil and religious leaders “to work towards security and peaceful co-existence” since “violence does not resolve conflicts but only increases the tragic consequences.”
The three-hour killing spree in the early hours of Sunday was the latest wave of sectarian violence to engulf Jos, where hundreds were killed in Muslim-Christian clashes in January. Governor Jonah Jang on Tuesday heavily criticised the Army over its failure to intervene to stop the latest killings at a time when a curfew was meant to be in force.
Residents said the massacre was part of a spiralling feud between the Fulani, who are nomadic herders, and Berom, who are farmers, which had been sparked by the theft of cattle. An illustration of the tension came overnight on Wednesday when residents piled into police barracks after an eruption of gunfire.
It later emerged the firing had been caused by soldiers trying to disperse crowds of mainly Christian youths.
Besides the policy statement issued in Abuja by the U.S Embassy in Nigeria, virtually every top official of the Department of State in Washington D.C has used the opportunity of a public functionto make open remarks condemning the crisis and calling on the Nigerian government to act fast in quelling the crisis. Barely 24 hours after the crisis which claimed several lives, U.S Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton while receiving the Gabonese President Ali Bongo in Washington D.C, took time out to comment on the crisis.
In her second sentence at the meeting, the U.S. secretary of State said, “Before I comment on our meeting, though, I wish to express our concern for the tragic loss of life in Nigeria. We continue to urge all parties to exercise restraint and seek constructive means for addressing the cycle of violence in Plateau State. The Nigerian Government should ensure that the perpetrators of acts of violence are brought to justice under the rule of law and that human rights are respected as order is restored.”
For the second time in the week, while presenting the 2009 Country Report on Human Right, Michael Posner, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor said that And finally, we continue to monitor – and this is not in 2008 but recent weeks – the violence last weekend in Nigeria and call on all parties and all communities there to work together and to prevent an escalation of that violence.
Regardless, from the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI condemned the “atrocious” mayhem, adding his voice to a chorus of international revulsion over the slaughter.
In his weekly general audience, Benedict offered condolences to the victims of the “atrocious violence causing bloodshed in Nigeria” and urged civil and religious leaders “to work towards security and peaceful co-existence” since “violence does not resolve conflicts but only increases the tragic consequences.”
Meanwhile, Pope Benedict XVI condemned the “atrocious” mayhem, adding his voice to a chorus of international revulsion over the slaughter.
In his weekly general audience, Benedict offered condolences to the victims of the “atrocious violence causing bloodshed in Nigeria” and urged civil and religious leaders “to work towards security and peaceful co-existence” since “violence does not resolve conflicts but only increases the tragic consequences.”
The three-hour killing spree in the early hours of Sunday was the latest wave of sectarian violence to engulf Jos, where hundreds were killed in Muslim-Christian clashes in January. Governor Jonah Jang on Tuesday heavily criticised the Army over its failure to intervene to stop the latest killings at a time when a curfew was meant to be in force.
Residents said the massacre was part of a spiralling feud between the Fulani, who are nomadic herders, and Berom, who are farmers, which had been sparked by the theft of cattle. An illustration of the tension came overnight on Wednesday when residents piled into police barracks after an eruption of gunfire.
It later emerged the firing had been caused by soldiers trying to disperse crowds of mainly Christian youths.
