Violence in March 2010...

...a TASTE blog

Link to interview with Archbishop Ben Kwashi (TASTE Patron)

Saturday 13 March
Text to Tom: "How was your night?"       Reply to Steve: "OK thanks"

So ends a week of violence and bloodshed that shocked many of the residents of Jos, hardened though they are to such things. Please continue to pray that the fragile peace will be maintained and that the army and police will be able to apprehend those responsible. By God's grace, there will be no further need for these updates and this will be the last. Thank you for your prayers
 

Friday 12 March
Another quiet night - on the surface things do seem to be returning to normal.  But some things are different.  Christians began a 48 hour fast yesterday morning.  In our office, everybody met for prayer during the morning.  There is widespread condemnation of the GOC (General Officer Commanding) and the army from many quarters.  Yesterday's march by the women was one such voice.  The army have been slow in responding to urgent cries for help - some say deliberately slow - and army troops (or those dressed as army troops) have been shooting Christians.  Things now are that there is little confidence in the army and, frankly, the acting President needs to move swiftly and decisively to re-appoint a GOC who has the confidence of the Christian majority in Plateau State.

Our drilling team have arrived safely at their drill site and have started drilling.  If things go well, they will complete 6 boreholes before returning to base.  This could take a couple of weeks.  As well as praying for the drilling team to have success in their work, pray that their families will be kept safe while the men are away.


Thursday 11 March
Thank God that last night was quiet in Jos again.  Offices are open today and people are trying to return to normal.  The women of Jos (not sure if it's just Christians or whether it's a mixed group - probably not mixed) are holding a demonstration march from the House of Assembly to the Government House, to express their bitterness over the extreme violence that we saw last weekend.

Our drilling team now have to move swiftly as they have contracts to complete by the end of March, or lose the work/money.  Added to that is the worry of working away from home.  The areas where they are due to visit are safe areas but there will be concerns for the families who are left without a man in the house for some nights.  Pray for them.  

Wednesday 10 March
Things were quiet in Bukuru (Tom's location) last night but, across town, where our guys, Steve and James live, there was gunfire throughout the night.  It has been decided to keep the office closed for another day.  The man who was to travel to Jemkur today to make the final connections to the solar panels, has fled Jos for the safety of his village.  Until he returns, Jemkur will not be completed.

Our drilling team are due to develop a number of boreholes in rural settings away from Jos.  Although they should be safe, they are understandably uncomfortable about leaving their homes and families overnight; perhaps for several nights.  Pray that the violence will stop and peace return.  As well as Jos needing it, it is severely hampering the work of TASTE!


Tuesday 9 March
Last night was a tough one for Tom. He sent me this text this morning:

"It was hard because d fulanis were seen advancing towards our area and we were alerted. We had to evacuate all the women and children out of d area to d police barracks close to us and all the men returned back. We also alerted d military and b4 they came d fulanis went into hiding. Pray 4 us."

The TASTE Team is spread around Jos and Andrew is some distance from where this occurred. But we need to pray hard that calm and peace will return to this city very soon.
 

Monday 8 March
Tom's community has received an anonymous threat: "We are coming to attack!".  Such things happen a lot in conflict areas because it increases tension and fear within a community.  Things were tense all day with many offices closed (including ours) and rumours and counter-rumours spreading like wildfire.  Sunday night, the men in Tom's area patrolled in groups to ensure that no violence broke out in their area.


Sunday 7 March
Communities were attacked just to the south of Bukuru (where Tom lives; where we have our land; and where the current office is - although the presence of security forces in Bukuru should stock violence breaking out again). The villages that were attacked are about 30 minutes journey but the tension that has spread has made for an unpleasant night. Tom and his friends were up all night patrolling the area.

Casualties are put at 200 - mainly women and children. All the homes were burned.

Although this is portrayed as a Fulani/Berom issue, it will split into the inevitable muslim/christian divide with the potential for futher outbreaks along those lines. There appears to be no motive for the attack other than revenge for the original January trouble. That mindset could open up a whole new can of worms.

Tom is going to take his wife and newly born son (Delong and Tiserie) to one of her aunts who is well away from any current trouble.

The communities attacked are typical of the communities where TASTE works so pray for wisdom to know where we ought to be travelling at the present time.