Concerned Jos Youths Association (COJOYA), a coalition of nineteen independent youth-based organizations in Jos, commended various groups for exercising restraint and equally calls for justice for the 26 lives lost in the recent attack of Muslim commuters at Rukuba Road in Jos North.
This was contained in a press release through the Secretary-General of the association, Sadiq Umar Sabo in the late hours of Sunday.
“While we most sincerely commend the efforts of the Federal and State Governments, the security agencies, particularly men and officers of the Operation Safe Haven, the Nigeria Police and other agencies for their prompt and timely intervention to nip the problem in the bud, we wish to reiterate that perpetrators of all the attacks are brought to justice to forestall future occurrences and to ensure justice to the deceased, their families and to the general public.”
The release also recounts two similar events which occurred at Rukuba Road and Gada Biyu respectively.,
“Recall that two vehicles conveying cattle were intercepted, attacked, and set ablaze at the same Gada Biyu/Rukuba road area of Jos on Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021. The drivers and other persons on board were believed to have been killed, cattles rustled and the vehicles set ablaze. Also, kindly recall that on the same Rukuba Road, sometimes in 2011, hundreds of Muslim worshipers were attacked, killed, roasted and their flesh preyed upon by the youths of the area when they went to pray the Eid-al Adha at their designated Eid ground.”
“It is a known fact that, as a result of the concerted efforts of the Plateau state government and its agencies, notably the Plateau State Peace Building Agency (PSPBA) and other stakeholders, the state has enjoyed relative peace in recent years. This is indeed a welcome and commendable development. It is however saddening that some people are hellbent on dragging us back to those gory dark days where wanton destruction and killings reigned supreme.”
“As a youth group, we call on our members and other youths across religious and ethnic divides not to allow themselves to be used as tools of destruction. We must remain resolute to peace and peaceful co-existence for our collective interests and development.”
