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FIRE ON THE PLATEAUX - Ajos Ajongbolo



By Ajongbolo Ajos Oluwagbenga OmoKele
Back in the days in high school under the tutelage of Mrs Alabi, our Geography teacher, we were thoroughly made to understand and possibly "cram" many land and rock formations. Inselbergs, Barchans, Yardangs, Rock Pedestals etc were the "songs on our lips" then. Wake us from our deep sleep, we could mention the features of a Plain, draw a Yardang and describe, without mincing words, a Rock Pedestal. But none of these interests me as the Plateau. Mrs Alabi, with Mr Popoola sometimes, carefully and painstakingly described and explained a Plateau.

In her words, Plateau is formed by lava extrusion, volcanic eruption of the molten magma and sometimes erosion by water and maybe glaciers. The plateau is always higher than the normal ground and often has steepy edges and sides. It has its unique weather compared to that of London. There and then, I resolved I was going to visit the Nigerian plateau soon. I could become a Londoner on the Jos plateau or in the Mambilla.

But can I these days? Jos and its environs have had fair share of ethnic and religious violence since then. Barkin Ladi is going through hell right away. The Plateau is burning. The cold environment is getting warm(is this what they meant by global warming?!) My love for that "Jesus-Our-Saviour" is fading. I'm hurting! The Beroms and the Fulanis are at loggerheads. The rate of cattlerustling is increasing. The farmlands are no-go areas. Beroms are dying. Fulanis are scattering. IDP camps are everywhere. Succour is nowhere. I'm not happy right here!

But I ask,
1. What are the governments, (both state and local) in Plateau doing to prevent, curb and stop the senseless killings of her citizens who they swore to protect?

2. What has the Federal Government done in nipping in the bud such crises and re-igniting the hope of an ordinary Nigerian in the security of his or her life?

3. How many Beroms have the police arrested and prosecuted? Where are the Fulani herdsmen behind bars? Has the DSS questioned the leaders of these farming communities? Is any "Sabo emir" undergoing interrogation at the SSS office? How many cattle rustlers have been jailed?

4. What have we, as concerned Nigerians, done to enlighten our friends, families, colleagues etc about the dangers of violence and the resultant effect on the lives, properties and economy of the affected area?

5. What has the social media done to help these places "under fire"? What has that blogger, columnist, On-Air-Personality(OAP) done to alleviate their problems. 

You could reach a million people under one hour. Please, help tell the world about the plights of these "Londoners" on the plateau. 

Stop spreading the news of Buhari's ministers or looking for the mystery behind Mercy Johnson's a-kid-a-year "programme"!!
I still wish to live in Jos, or anywhere on the Plateau!!

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