JONATHAN RECEIVES INTERIM REPORT ON JOS CRISIS

Jos crisis …harvest of destruction
Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday received the interim report of the Presidential Committee on Jos Crisis.

At the event, which held at the State House, Abuja, he vowed that the Federal Government would formulate 'crucial next steps' to stem the violence in the Plateau State capital and its environs.

The committee was set up after the January 2010 episode of the lingering violence in Jos and its environs.

Jonathan expressed concern over the resurgent crisis in the area and declared that 'we just cannot continue like this.'

The Acting President noted that Jos and its environs were going through a 'period of aggression and lawlessness which the Federal Government is determined to bring to an end.'

Jonathan thanked the committee for the work and expressed hope that its final report would provide practical and workable solutions to the Jos crisis.

The Chairman of the committee, Chief Solomon Lar, informed the Acting President that the full report would be ready soon, explaining that the committee still required the input of certain critical segments to finalise the document.

He commended the Federal Government for its open determination to put an end to the crisis in Jos, which he said was caused by years of mutual suspicion and mistrust among the people in the area. Lar, who is a former governor of the state, later told journalists that the report would go a long way towards the restoration of peace in Jos.

'We hope so; if it wouldn't there wouldn't have been any need to put the committee together. We will come out with something that will give Plateau peace and confidence,' he said, when asked if the committee's final report could be effective.

Lar further explained that the committee in its interim report intimated Jonathan on the 'progress so far made.'

But Lar did not disclose the nature of the recorded progress to journalists.

Also, the contents of the interim report were not provided.

'The progress so far made is submitted to him and we would not give it in bits but the Acting President would let the nation know that later, after we would have concluded and completed everything,' he said.

However, journalists further asked why the committee was presenting an interim report, when it was given only two weeks to turn in its report.

Replying, Lar said, 'Well you all know that it (report) is interim because we haven't finished.

'And you know during the investigation, another incident broke out; that also was disturbing and embarrassing.

'So let us wait for the government after we might have submitted the whole report.'

Asked when the committee will submit its final report, Lar said 'very soon.'

Earlier, Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang had also briefed Jonathan behind closed doors.

Speaking to journalists afterwards, Jang explained that he was at the Presidential Villa to 'brief the Acting President on the latest situation and how far we have gone' with efforts at ensuring that peace and stability returns to Jos.

The governor was optimistic that the deployment of more troops could help to stabilise state capital.

However, he also noted that besides checking the groups responsible for the killings, it was also important to ensure that the people live in peace.