UNENDING JOS KILLINGS: What is the Defence Chief bringing to Jos?

Good article: Worth a Read

Vanguard

18 September 2011

UNENDING JOS KILLINGS: What is the Defence Chief bringing to Jos?
Special Report

By Taye Obateru

Following the unending blood-letting in Plateau State which heightened in the last two weeks resulting in the killings of women, children and men, climaxed by last Sunday evening's twin blasts at the junction to West of Mines, President Goodluck Jonathan had directed Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Marshal Oluseyi Petirin, to take charge of security in the state.

While some Nigerians view the directive as virtually asking the CDS to take command of the state, a state of emergency by other means, some others see it as an indication that the Federal Government is, for once, tackling the crisis headlong.

While details of Petirin's schedule of duties remains to be seen, a nagging question on several lips in the state and elsewhere is, "will he make any difference?" Posers like, "what will he do differently?; "Is he going to bring a new set of soldiers or will he work with those on ground who are already suffering from a crisis of confidence from a section of the state?; "How will he restore the confidence of the people in the military and what is he going to do differently? arose from Sunday Vanguard's interaction with residents following the directive.