Jos: How tin mining, dialogue lessened 16-year conflict
In Jos, a 16 year old conflict has quietened through the genuine goodwill and efforts of the people, their leaders and a number of NGOs. This shows that dialogue and economic activities may play a role in ending crises, for most upheavals have roots in poverty and neglect. As a fallout of these developments an inspiring sight can be seen on the plateau today: the farming folk (Berom) and pastoralists (Fulani) jointly engage in tin mining to the pleasant surprise of many, and for the benefit of both.
Ado Ibrahim, 30 is Fulani and he is within the sprawling minefields of Tanti when we arrive. We skirt a body of water and step gently around some pits to avoid muddy portions of the soil, and then we get to the mines. Men and women are busy carrying basins, scraping the earth, working in groups with shovels or using pumping machines. In the midst of all this, lively talk continues with some laughter. The visitor hears people speaking in Hausa, Berom, Fulfulde and a few other tongues as well. There are old pits as well as new ones, new inexperienced miners as well as old tested ones. Boys are seen sieving tin in a corner, and there are those taking a break from the sieving process. This is the environment at the mine pits near Jos, where men and women dig for tin all day long and share stories and memories. A fresh interest in mining has reduced a 16 year old crises in the sense that the two warring sides, the Fulani and the Berom, jointly mine for the mineral, they share profits and plan a future. A land which saw a lot of bloodletting is now creating an economy. Ibrahim explains ‘One trade is not enough and I have found it necessary to join my Berom friends to mine tin.’ He adds that mining reduces poverty ‘instead of selling a cow or a sheep, what I earn keeps me going. This has made the Berom and the Fulani come together because they both have a common goal that they want to achieve.’
The pastoralist adds that some 50 Fulani work at the Tanti mining pit, and that though they all work there all of them have cows, and he emphasises that mining helps to provide them with an additional bit of income. Imam Mohammed, a herder at a camp in Kwakwi tells
‘The Fulani taught Berom how to keep cows, and the Berom taught us how to mine.’ Ibrahim Yusuf, a commercial motorcycle rider observes ‘Peace has been restored between both communities. Both Berom and Fulani can move freely through places which they were once afraid to enter.’ Rifkatu Emmanuel, a Berom lady who is visiting the mines to buy tin, salutes ‘Fulani miners for their initiative, industry and hardwork.’
Mafeng Gwallson, Management Committee Chairman, Riyom local government opens up on the joint mining activities in both Riyom and Barkin Ladi local governments ‘When the two groups started mining, security agents wanted to stop them, for there were fears that people will be killed. People of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds are busy mining tin, and that is a key driver of the peace process. Government should create activities that are beneficial to the people, particularly economic activities. In the past when the Fulani see people mining they used to get angry for sometimes cattle will fall into the pit, but now the nomads have turned around to play a major role in mining. They no longer entertain those fears.’
Dogo is the site of a mining pit in Barkin Ladi local government. Berom and Fulani also converge to mine tin there, and the numbers have swelled in recent years. Mapak Danladi Mbaka, a youth leader in Barkin Ladi local government, comments ‘There is a pit where the two groups are mining. In Dogo, they mine and cook together .They sell the tin, and share the money without any problem. It’s a sign of peace. Fulani boys buy cows from the proceeds of mining, and they also use the proceeds to buy fertilizer against dry season farming. Monies from mining are used by the nomads to go to Mecca on the pilgrimage .It is a cycle. They have gained much by mining here.’