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The crisis in Jos,
the Plateau State capital, which has claimed many lives has been blamed
on the inaction of the federal government, a civil rights group,
Intersociety has said.

Speaking through its chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, yesterday in Awka, the Anambra State capital, he said

“Government’s
action is missing, but inaction is noticeable. It may be correct to say
that over 15,000 Nigerians including women and children had been killed
since 1999 as a result of unabated ethno-religious/political violence
and it may also be safe to submit that the number of politically
related murders in Nigeria since 1999 has risen to between 160 and 200.
And over 90 per cent of these dastardly acts have remained judicially
and socially unresolved.

“With respect to
Jos killings, is it correct to say that the president is theoretically,
the Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria’s 700,000-strong Armed Forces? If the
answer is yes, then the president must take charge, because it appears
the contrary is the correct answer. It is our total submission that the
killings in Jos are deliberately political. The sponsors of these
killings are the same ethnic nationalities who adorn their plate
numbers with “born-to-rule” insignia,” Mr Umeagbalasi stated.

He said impunity
has continued to rule over the land and the president must address this
issue for democracy to thrive. “What is far more important is the
president’s capacity and competence to govern, especially as regards
the security and welfare of the Nigerian citizens as well as credible
protection of the territorial integrity of the state of Nigeria. It is
very disheartening that most of those who perpetrated these killings
are still on the prowl, no thanks to the president. He added.

The group regretted
that apart from the 17 people who were convicted by the Federal High
Court in December 2010, most of the perpetrators have not been held to
account for heinous atrocities committed, as the white papers that
originated from the two commissions of enquiry set up by the Federal
and the Plateau State governments had equally not been issued or
implemented till this date.

He scored Goodluck
Jonathan low for allowing key security formations in Plateau State to
be controlled by Muslim officers and described it as a dangerous
security and intelligence policy on the part of the president.

“We recall vividly
that during the Niger Delta uprising, the combatants and key senior
security officers posted in the area were drawn from the northern part
of the country.

Consequently, it is our respectful request that the entire security
establishments in Plateau State should be overhauled and officers and
combatants from parts of the country other than south east, middle-belt
and core north posted to the area.