By Muhammad Tanko
Islamic scholars and Quran memorisers as well as other Muslims in Plateau State have on Monday, converged and offered special prayers for the victims of the 2001 Jos crisis.
The prayer session took place at the Central Mosque Bukur which witnessed a large turnout, including survivors and relatives of the victims, from Tim Tim, Dogo Nahawa, Kuru Babba, Dilimi, and the surrounding villages in Jos South Local Government Area of the state.
Nigerian Times Online gathered that the prayer session was in remembrance of the victims of the 2001 ethno-religious crisis that claimed thousands of lives and displaced hundred of thousands from the homes.
The session was organised under the auspices of the Sustainable Words for Peace and Development for Displaced Persons in Jos South, a community-based initiative focused on healing and reconciliation.
Leading the prayers, the Deputy Chief Imam of the mosque, Sheikh Sani Lawal, said, “Many lives were lost during the crisis, and today we recited the Holy Qur’an to seek Allah’s forgiveness for the departed souls.
“This gathering serves not only to pray for the victims but also to reconnect as a community after years of displacement and separation.”
Sheikh Lawal also used the opportunity to call for peaceful coexistence among residents of Plateau State, urging people of all religious and ethnic backgrounds to embrace tolerance and unity.
Also speaking after the session, the group’s leader, Alhaji Babayo Bukur, emphasized the need for lasting peace in the state.
“Beyond praying for those we lost, we are also praying for unity and development across Plateau.
“Without peace, there can be no progress. We hope for a time when all displaced persons will return to their original homes and live harmoniously again,” he said.
However, the gathering served as a powerful reminder of the enduring impact of the 2001 crisis and the ongoing efforts toward healing and reconciliation within the affected communities.
