Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ABUJA2345
2008-12-01 17:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:  

NIGERIA: VIOLENCE SUBSIDES IN PLATEAU STATE; BUT

Tags:  PGOV PHUM KIRF ASEC NI 
pdf how-to read a cable
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INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1528
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RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002345 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA, DRL - KAREN GILBRIDE, DS/IP/AF,
DS/TIA/ITA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF ASEC NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: VIOLENCE SUBSIDES IN PLATEAU STATE; BUT
TENSION STILL SIMMERS

REF: ABUJA 2328

Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4 (b &
d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002345

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA, DRL - KAREN GILBRIDE, DS/IP/AF,
DS/TIA/ITA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF ASEC NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: VIOLENCE SUBSIDES IN PLATEAU STATE; BUT
TENSION STILL SIMMERS

REF: ABUJA 2328

Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4 (b &
d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: After three days of
political-turned-ethnoreligious violence, a forced calm was
restored to Plateau State's capital of Jos when the Nigerian
military occupied the city and imposed a curfew on November

30. The violence that erupted on November 27 due to alleged
vote rigging in the Jos North Local Government Area (LGA)
elections resulted in a death toll of perhaps over 400
people; the loss of hundreds of homes, churches, and
businesses; and the displacement of several hundred people
forced into IDP camps with inadequate food or resources.
Although there is a sizable American population living in
Jos, Mission contacts with Amcit wardens in the city indicate
that no Amcits were injured or otherwise involved in the
violence. Although Governor Jonah Jang's curfew,
shoot-on-sight directive to security forces, and request for
military assistance restored the semblance of peace, the
respite may not last. Many believe the violence will resume
once the military presence diminishes or when the government
attempts to swear in the supposed winner of the Jos North LGA
Chairmanship election. Due to the violence, the state
postponed the swearing in of the 17 Local Government Chairmen
elected on November 27, but still plans to reschedule it for
later this week. The political tensions which started the
chaos soon took on a religious character that has pitted
Muslim against Christian and allegedly has Muslim leaders
calling for retribution. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) The violence that erupted in Plateau State's capital
city of Jos on November 27 has by now subsided due to the
Nigerian military taking control of security in the city.
The chaos that began amidst rumors of vote rigging in the Jos
North Local Government Area (LGA) elections lasted for three
days and resulted in hundreds of deaths; the destruction of
homes, churches, and business; and the reported displacement
of hundreds of people. While the state's Minister of
Information Nuhu Gagara told the press that the official

death toll was only 200, most other observers reported over
400 casualties, with the likelihood that the number would
increase once people were allowed to move about the city.
Media reports claim close to 400 Muslim victims alone were
brought to area Mosques for mass burials. There was little
press coverage on the number of Christian victims, however
Mission contacts in Jos claimed that the local morgue was
full and was forced to turn away another 200 deceased over
the weekend. By contrast, Clinton Garuba, Special Assistant
to the Governor of Plateau State, told Poloff that the press
greatly exaggerated the number of casualties and that there
were only 150 deaths.


3. (C) Members of the Mission' s Locally Engaged Staff (LES)
reported that many of their family members were forced to
relocate to impromptu "refugee" camps set up around Jos;
these were seriously lacking in food and resources. Reports
indicate that there were over 200 Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs) at the University of Jos alone. Several
sources corroborated reports that the state government had
not made any effort to provide relief for the hundreds of
IDPs who lost their homes and belongings.


4. (C) We estimate that there are approximately 150-200
American citizens, primarily missionaries and their families,
living in Jos. Wardens and other contacts reported no
Americans harmed or injured. Mission security officers
coordinated with the Nigeria Police Force to provide safe
passage out of Jos for interested parties on the morning of
November 29. 55 people (including 10-20 Amcits) took
advantage of the police escort and traveled safely to Abuja.


5. (C) The Mission's wardens in Jos, many of whom have lived
there for decades, said that although the violence was worse
than what they witnessed in previous outbreaks, such as the
2001 religious riots that led to the death of over 1,000
people, they had no plans to leave. They reported, however,

ABUJA 00002345 002 OF 002


that they were not surprised by the events and had made
preparations anticipating increased tension prior to the LGA
elections. Most also agreed that the current calm was just a
lull and that it was only a matter of time before the
violence reignited, especially if the state government
attempted to swear in the highly contested winner of the Jos
North LGA election.


6. (C) Despite the fact that allegations of vote count
manipulation initiated the violence, Special Assistant to the
Governor Garuba emphatically stated to Poloff that the state
government would "absolutely not" contemplate canceling the
results. He added that there were plans to proceed with the
swearing in of the 17 newly elected Local Government Chairmen
before week's end.


7. (C) While a struggle for political office sparked the
violence, it is being treated here almost entirely as an
ethno-religious conflict. Some media reports appeared
skewed, highlighting the number of Muslim victims only and
suggesting that Christian groups instigated the violence.
Christian groups have responded angrily, claiming that just
as many Christians were killed, and repeating reports that
Muslim leaders have been heard calling for "retribution."
Special Assistant Garuba expressed the state government's
anger over international news outlets apparently reporting
that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) was suspected
of starting the attacks. Garuba alleged that it was in fact
"mercenaries" from Sokoto and the Republic of Niger, whom he
described as "Muslim fanatics," who were responsible for the
crisis.


8. (C) Despite the Governor's adamant denial that the crisis
in Jos could spread to other areas, many sources agreed that
there is a real chance the violence could affect other cities
with similar ethno-religious tensions, such as Kano, Kaduna,
Zaria, and Lafia. Mission contacts also allege evidence of
continued transport and distribution of arms en route to Jos.
They added that if those trying to transport arms into Jos
are turned away by the military, they may try to involve
neighboring towns and cities.


9. (C) COMMENT: Similar outbreaks of ethnic violence have
occurred many times before in Jos, including most recently in
1994, 2001 and 2004. As in those outbreaks, the context is
underlying tension and political rivalry between a mostly
Muslim and Hausa town in a state which is mostly Christian
and non-Hausa. Section 14.3 of the Nigerian Constitution
ensures that its government will reflect the country's
"federal character," insuring that there be "no predominance"
of people from any ethnic group or state in any part of the
government. In the Nigerian interpretation of this clause,
the key word is "from." While any Nigerian can theoretically
live anywhere in the country, only those "from" Plateau state
have a right to serve in the state government. The Christian
non-Hausa peoples of the state have used their control of the
state government to deny automatic "indigene" status to
Hausas. Thus, while most of the Hausas of Jos are
descendents of people who moved into the area in the 1920s,
they are largely barred from serving in the state civil
service (a major source of jobs and locus of power). The LGA
Chairmanship is important because the Chairman can issue
certificates of "indigene-ship" to residents born in his
Area, whatever their ethnic background. We believe it
extremely unlikely that the Christian non-Hausa PDP
Chairmanship candidate could have won a fair election against
the Muslim Hausa ANPP candidate in the strongly Muslim and
Hausa Jos North LGA. If the state government attempts to
swear in the PDP candidate while current tensions remain
fresh, additional violence is quite possible. END COMMENT.
Sanders