In Jos, Nigeria’s central city, the solemnity of Easter Sunday was overshadowed by the recent tragedy that left around 30 people dead in a shooting just a week prior. The city, still reeling from the loss, was under a strict curfew from 3:00 pm to 7:00 am, with streets largely abandoned, save for the sparse presence of a single police checkpoint in the Anguwan Rukuba district where the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) is located. Despite the somber atmosphere, worshippers braved the fear to attend Mass at the large, imposing church situated meters from the site of the Palm Sunday attack.
The church, which was less than half full, had taken extra precautions by deploying private security to search attendees before allowing them access. John Abo Galadima, 57, expressed his concerns to AFP, stating, “I don’t feel safe in the community, because the government is not doing enough. In terms of security.”.
His sentiments were echoed by Marian Mark Andy, who added, “I don’t feel safe. People are afraid, they could not come to church.”Reverend Luka Musa Madaki addressed the congregation, urging them to remain vigilant and to support each other. “.
As people of God, you need to stand up, spiritually and physically. The attacks are coming to us too much. You should always remain vigilant and reach out to each other, “he.
The reverend’s words came amidst a backdrop of repeated incidents of rural violence in Plateau state, which has been linked to farmer-herder conflicts and has witnessed deadly sectarian riots in the past.
The incident in Jos marked a rare urban attack in the state, which is home to a mixed population of Christians and Muslims. In one of the deadliest incidents in recent years, nearly 200 people were killed at Christmas in 2023 in raids on mostly Christian towns. The memory of the 2001 sectarian rioting, which took nearly 1,000 lives in a five-day rampage, was also fresh in the minds of many.
Muslims had also observed their weekly Juma’a prayers under heightened security, with soldiers and police deployed at Jos’s central mosque. The chief Imam of Jos, Sheikh Ghazali Ismail Adam, emphasized the importance of peace and coexistence in his post-prayer sermon.
Source: Africanews
