SUMMARY

This research work examined the Inter-Religious crisis in Jos, its causes, effects and the impact of the measures taken in the resolution of the conflict. The conflicts in Jos have occurred severally. Though usually with the same parties, the conflicts have been dynamic in causes and intensity. At each instance of conflict, the trigger cause remains flimsy and insufficient to spark up a conflict or a conflict of that magnitude. It suffices to say that as with other conflicts, and since there is no mono-causal argument in history, conflicts in Jos have many causes. While the causes of the conflicts may vary in hierarchy, the conflicts are not mono-causal. With the effects of the conflicts clearly felt in the city and beyond, the Jos conflicts have generated varied reactions from numerous quarters from far and near. Based on available secondary data, the controversy over indigene/settler rights is the foundation of the conflict on which societal cleavages such as ethnicity, religion, politics and resource control are erected. The major cause of the Jos conflict is the struggle between the Hausa/Fulani and the indigenous Berom, Anaguta and Afizere over the status of each other and what rights can and should be enjoyed based on such status. Since the outbreak of conflict in 2001, many peacemaking processes have been initiated to facilitate reconciliation between the conflicting groups in Jos. Despite these efforts put in place by the government, civil societies, religious bodies, academia, international non-Governmental Organizations, the conflicts persisted and frustrated the reconciliation processes. The conflicts persisted as a result of many factors which include arms proliferation which falls under political factors, ethnicity and religious conflicts, the indigene-settlers saga, the tussle for the ownership of Jos, prejudice alongside the failure to address the causes of the conflicts. These factors have promoted subsequent conflicts and militated against reconciliation. The Jos conflicts have continued for far too long and both parties remain obstinate about their stand. The conflicts have ravaged nearly every part of the city and succeeded in spreading outwards. The attendant effects are felt in the destruction of lives and properties both private and public for which the government has not been able to curb. The reckless killing and maiming during the conflicts have persisted because perpetrators are never brought to book. The conflicts in Jos have continued to defy all peacemaking attempts as parties to the conflict are unwilling to make concession and government have failed again to address and lay to rest the underlying cause of the conflicts, this failure by the government have resulted to making Jos a place receptive to terrorist attack till today.