Jos. Still on my mind.
Just today, the Police has finally been able to draw up a list of 162 people to prosecute for the massacres in Jos. What I find most interesting are the offenses for which the suspects are being 'prosecuted'.
- 41 suspects are to be charged with terrorism and culpable homicide, punishable by death'
- 82 would be charged with unlawful possession of firearms, rioting and "mischief by fire"
Terrorism? Culpable homicide ? Pray, how many will be charged with 'Murder'? None.
'Mischief by fire'; is that the same as arson? Maybe not.
No wonder nobody seems interested in the trials, if ever they actually take place. From the onset, we have refused to call a crime by its name; we glorify criminals and call them 'muslims' or 'christians'.
I am not sure if we have learned anything from all these killings and a people who would not learn from their history, are bound to repeat.
Will we ever forget what happened in Jos? Unfortunately, yes. Sooner than later, we will.
Did we not forget Ife/Modakeke? Aguleri/Umuleri? and the many wars of the Ijaw/Itsekiri/Urhobo?
