The Muslim community in Jos, Plateau State, has claimed that more than 4,700 of its members have been killed in violent crises in the state from 2001 to date.
The Jasawa Community Development Association (JCDA) made the disclosure during a prayer session held on Friday, November 28, 2025, at the Jos Central Mosque. The group said the figures counter the widely held perception that only Christians have suffered targeted killings in the state, insisting that Muslims have also been major victims of repeated violence.
Speaking at the session marking the 17th commemoration prayers for victims of the crises, the National President of JCDA, Yawale Muhammad, said the association has kept detailed records of Muslim casualties from the various conflicts in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, and other years.
According to him, the documented number of Muslims killed since 2001 stands at over 4,700.
Muhammad described the 2008 crisis as the most devastating, noting that hundreds of Muslims were killed during the violence that erupted after the local government elections in Jos North.
“The Muslim community is gathered today to mark the 17th commemoration of the killing of our brothers and sisters since 2001 to date,” he said.
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He stated that for more than two decades, repeated crises—particularly in Jos North, which has a large Muslim population—have led to the deaths of numerous men, women, and children across different parts of the state.
“For us, every 28th November is not just another date on the calendar. It is a date that subsumes many other painful days in which unfortunate crises befell us. It is a day for sober reflection, mourning, truth-telling, prayer, and renewed resolve,” Muhammad added.
Giving a breakdown of the figures, the JCDA President said more than 700 Muslims were killed in the 2001 crisis, while hundreds more were killed in the 2002 Eto Baba violence in Jos.
He added:
“You will recall that in 2004 during the Yelwa-Shendam crisis, at least 700 Muslims were slaughtered.
“In 2008, the post-election unrest in Jos resulted in over 1,000 Muslim deaths, followed by the 2010 multi-location attacks in Dutse Uku, Gero, Kuru Jenta, and other areas, where more than 2,000 Muslims were reportedly killed.
“In 2011, attacks at the Rukuba Road Eid praying ground left 20 worshippers dead, while the 2021 Rukuba Road incident claimed hundreds of lives among Muslim travellers returning from a condolence visit to Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi. According to our records, we have lost 4,700 people.”
Muhammad added that several mass graves exist at Jos Zaria Road Muslim Cemetery, Narkuta Muslim Cemetery, Dadin Kowa Muslim Cemetery, Yelwa-Shendam Muslim Cemetery, and other locations.
Also speaking at the prayer session, a community leader, Alhaji Shehu Masalla, described November 28 as a significant day of remembrance for Muslims in Jos.
“We remember those who were killed during these crises. We have also lost property worth millions of naira. This day is very important for us,” he said.
Malam Hamisu Umaru, who led the prayer session, said the gathering was essential not only to honor the victims but also to seek Allah’s intervention for lasting peace in Plateau State. He emphasized that development would remain impossible without peaceful coexistence across ethno-religious lines.
(Daily Post)