Guardian

IN December 2011, the Federal Government declared a state of emergency in 15 local governments in four states - Borno, Yobe, Plateau and Niger - because of the unrelenting orgy of violence in those areas. Those areas affected councils in the Plateau were; Jos North, Jos South, Riyom and Barkin Ladi.

Taking a look back at those councils, how did they fare under emergency rule? Rather than solving the problem then, the declaration created fear, tension and more antagonism among the persons of different religions and ethnic nationalities. It also created a lot of setback for governance, leading to more money being spent. Security votes were increased because government had to sustain the tempo of activities. The councils affected became stagnated, just wallowing in the murky waters of confusion, as no defined duties were assigned to the chairmen of the councils involved.

Conversely, the level of attacks and killings heightened, especially in those four local governments, more than before. Sporadic attacks became the order of the day among the warring factions. There were attacks and counter-attacks almost on a daily basis. The violence even spread to other local governments that were hitherto not affected by the emergency.

Then there developed animosity and suspicion by the people for the soldiers of the Special Task Force (STF) who were drafted to the state to maintain law and order.

The relationship between the soldiers and the natives was very frosty, to the extent that the women took up arms (sticks) in protest against the soldiers. The women were angry because they felt the soldiers did not adequately protect them, as they were still being attacked despite their presence. They, together with the restive youths, at times, went and set ablaze the tents of the STF.

Another setback suffered by the councils during the declaration of emergency was the withdrawal of their monthly subventions by the federal government. Salaries of the affected staff were not paid; unemployment increased and the rate of crime became unimaginable. But due to protest, hue and cry by public-spirited people, stakeholders, National Assembly members, state legislators, concerned citizens against the withdrawal of the subventions, the federal government kowtowed and released the funds to them. What was most visible then was the heavy presence of military personnel in the four councils affected by the emergency rule.

The situation on ground now is that additional troops have not been deployed to the state by the Defence Headquarters. Spokesman of the STF Captain Charles Ekeocha told The Guardian that they were still maintaining the status quo as they had not formally received any directive from the Defence Headquarters.

Mr. Emmanuel Dipo Ayeni, who used to be the commissioner of Police, who also said that there had been no special directive from Abuja since the proclamation.

There were varied reactions by the people to that declaration. While some welcomed the idea, others denounced it. The state government had taken a measured stance on the situation.

The State commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Yiljap Abraham had said; “The Plateau State Government acknowledges the broadcast by the President on the state of the nation’s security, wherein, he declared a state of emergency in some local government areas in the northern part of the country including four councils in Plateau State.”

He assured the President of Plateau State government’s cooperation in that regard. “The state government will continue to be interested in measures aimed at containing threats to security in the state.

While commending the President for imposing partial state of emergency in some local government councils, the executive chairman of the Christian Foundation for Social Justice and Equity, Mr. Joseph Sangosanya, said he would have preferred a total state of emergency in the affected states to nip in the bud any further spate of violence.

According to Sangosanya, “It is a step in the right direction. But total state of emergency is required urgently in the affected states, as this will address the ugly events that are threatening the corporate existence of the country in a holistic manner. Mr. President should immediately initiate a bill to make aiding and abetting terrorism a capital offence with capital punishment.”

But a member representing Jos East/Jos South in the House of Representatives, Hon Bitrus Kaze, was not happy with the declaration, accusing the President of partiality.

Kaze, who was fuming as he wondered what yardsticks the President used in arriving at those local governments, considering the severe insecurity in some states not touched at all.

“What is the yardstick? What about Kaduna, where there had been several bombings, and where a factory for manufacturing bomb was discovered? Talk of Bauchi, where Boko Haram was bred and talk about Gombe and FCT. I don’t know the yardstick but I know he dealt with the issue partially,” he said.

The 10 Federal Legislators in Plateau State described it as unwarranted, urging the federal government to rescind the decision in the interest of justice, equity and fair play.

The text of that briefing was read on their behalf by the late Senator representing Jos North senatorial District, Dr. Gyang Dantong. He was murdered at a funeral service for members of his constituency who had been killed in a previous raid by marauders.

The legislators tried to explain that external forces carried out incidents of attacks in the affected councils and that the aggressors were not domiciled in the areas.

The lawmakers recalled that while President Goodluck Jonathan was Acting President, he directed the police to hands-off the management and control of the security situation in the state, directing the army to take over, wherein a Special Task Force (STF) was constituted. Later when the violence continued on a larger proportion the President directed the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to take over again.

Their thoughts were that the whole situation amounted to running in circles, while Plateau was a victim at the receiving end of orchestrated terrorism attacks.

They called for the full implementation of all white papers on the Jos crises, particularly the Justice Niki Tobi Report of the 2001 crises and the Justice Bola Ajibola Report of 2008, none of which has been taken up by government.

Today, Plateau is still unsafe, with daily reports of killings, leading to the argument that that emergency declaration in four local government areas did not achieve anything positive.