Nasarawa Gwom in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State remained a ghost town yesterday, a day after the violence in which scores died.
A similar disturbance occurred in the area 14 months ago.
Despite the gradual return of normalcy, government offices and banks did not open for business.
Social workers, some restaurants and leisure houses, however, rendered skeletal services.
The Gen. Abisoye-led panel raised by the Federal Government to look into the November 28, 2008 Jos North crisis could not sit because of Sunday’s renewed violence.
At press time, the police said they had arrested over 60 persons but were silent on the casualty figure.
Reporters saw many bodies on the streets being evacuated by the police and the Red Cross to the morgues of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and the Plateau State Specialists’ Hospital.
Check points have been created in volatile areas, such as Ali Kazaure, Gangare, Abba Nashehu, Rikkos, Nasarawa Gwon, Congo-Russia, Dutse Ukwu, Angwa Rukuba, Sabon Layi and Dilimi.
Commissioner for Information Gregory Yenlong said security agents had been directed to secure worship places in Jos and Bukuru to avert an escalation of the crisis.
More than five churches and mosques were torched in Rikkos on Sunday.
The Muslim community in Jos North denied the reports that its youths led the onslaught.
Its spokesman, Mohammed Mudi, told reporters at the Jos Central Mosque that Christian Youths should be held responsible for the crisis.
But the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) youth President in the state, Pastor Bala Adamu, said Christian youths could not have left services around 11am to attack Muslim youths.
Pastor Adamu said: “How can you expect our youths to leave their services at that hour to attack the Muslims. It can not happen. We have never done it and we cannot start now.
“We still insist that there have been premeditated plans by the Muslims to cause disaffection in the state so that the governor would be removed.
“You recall the Daily Trust publication of January 15, page nine, where some Imams from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), especially Sheik Mohammed Nuru Khalid, called on the Federal Government to remove Jang.
“We ask, what special interest do they have in Plateau State that they are calling for the governor’s head? Is this not a pre-planned crisis that we should be attacked in the church?”
The Gen Abisoye-led panel said the latest violence was a draw back to its assignment.
Speaking shortly after waiting in vain for respondents to come for their presentation at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), venue of the panel, the chairman, Ambassador Godfrey Preware, said he was optimistic that the assignment would go on despite Sunday’s crisis.
A University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Political Science lecturer, Dr Aremu Fatai Ayinde, yesterday blamed the crisis on poverty and unemployment.
Ayinde, therefore, recommended the introduction of peace education in all tiers of education as antidote to violent crises.
He said the youth, right from the kindergarten to university levels, should be taught the principle of peaceful co-existence.
Ayinde called on governments at all levels to strengthen their poverty alleviation programmes to meet the employment needs of the youth.
Ayinde said: “We need to inculcate peace education in our education curriculum. I can’t imagine neighbours who have been living together for a long time and all of a sudden, they wake up to take up arms against one another. A lot of things need to be done beyond the usual investigations and panels.
“We have inaugurated many panels not only in Jos, but in Nigeria to no avail. Let me tell you if you set up hundred panels you can’t get to the root of violent conflicts.
“Jos was peaceful before. I had my first degree from the University of Jos. Research has shown that there is relationship between poverty and conflict and between economic backwardness and the probability of violent conflict.
“What this means is that unless we are able to tackle the poverty level, small crisis can ignite violent conflict.
“It also means that if Jos could be engulfed in intractable conflict, no part of Nigeria is immuned to violent conflict.
“Interestingly, when you look at the world map, you will discover that areas where poverty is very high are also the areas where violent conflicts are very high.”
Also yesterday, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) condemned the Jos crisis.
ACF described the clash in a text message to The Nation in Kaduna by its National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani, as senseless and unfortunate.
It urged governments at all levels to formulate policies that would engage the youth in productive ventures.
The forum also called on religious and community leaders to warn their followers against social vices.
The text message reads: “Following yet another report of violent clashes in Nasarawa Gwom of Jos North Local Government of Plateau State, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) wishes to say enough of such senseless violence.
“Violence, be it political, religious or ethnic, is not acceptable to God as well as peace-loving Nigerians.
“No society can develop without peace.
“Religious and community leaders must brace up to overcome the differences that divide the people.
“Our leaders should also come up with policies that would preoccupy our youths in productive ventures.
“ACF commends the security agents and the Plateau State government for bringing the situation under control.
“ACF also commiserates with innocent people who lost lives and property in the crisis.
“May God give them the fortitude to bear the loss.”
The leader of the Yoruba Community in Jos, Chief Toye Ogunshuyi, yesterday said the incessant crises in the city could lead to the disintegration of Nigeria if the Federal Government “fails to take stiffer measures against them.”
He said: “Unless the Federal Government takes proactive measures in handling the Jos crisis, possible reprisal attacks in other parts of the country cannot be over ruled.
“You will recall the November 28, 2008 crisis, some Yoruba youth corps members and students were killed. The Yoruba buried them in the night to avoid retaliatory attacks.
“We urge the Federal Government to strengthen security to safety of live property.”
Minister of Police Affairs Ibrahim Lame yesterday ordered the police to fish out sponsors of violence in the country.
He spoke in Abuja when he commissioned 58 motorcycles and seven vehicles at the Force Headquarters.
Lame said those who hid under the religious guise to cause trouble would be dealt with.
On the last weekend Jos crisis, a source at the Force Headquarters said 13 persons have died while 32 people were injured.
He said among the suspects arrested during the crisis, seven were found to be in possession of offensive weapons.
The source said the suspects would be prosecuted.