By EZEKIEL DONTINNA, JUMMAI MUSA & DANKUJE, JOY ASHESON
WHEN Plateau State Government embarked on street lighting programme and flagged it off in Jos, the capital city, by the immediate past administration, people along JD Gomwalk road, were happy and thought it was going to reach them and help in curtailing the criminal activities around the area.
JD Gomwalk Road which is one of the busiest roads in Jos city, at one time, was illuminated by street lights when former Governor Jonah David Jang, expanded the road leading to Kabong towards Goodluck Jonathan road. Sadly, the reverse is the case now. Everything is still standing with so much promise, but the structures have no light and give no light as a result.
It used to be a beautiful sight, seeing everywhere shining with light. It ran down to Gada Biu and beyond. It assured one of safety because vices are best perpetrated in the dark. It was then very common to see business areas closing from 9:00 pm not any time before that as it now obtains.
A lot of market women used to take advantage of the street lights to trek home with their children. They served as watchful and protective eyes.
The solar street lights were very consistent. They had been here, giving life along JD Gomwalk Road long before other areas were adorned with street lights. But for some reasons, they all stopped working and have remained as empty structures ever since.
One of the commonest questions on people’s lips is why successive governments refused to attain to those street lights and bring them back to life.
Unfortunately, JD Gomwalk road is the only highway and main street within Jos metropolis that has no functioning street lights.
It is often a nightmare when driving at night from Kasheem Ibrahim road down to Hill Station roundabout. The journey goes smoothly with street lights everywhere until one reaches the JD Gomwalk Road, down to Police Headquarters, to Polo Roundabout. Except for flashes of light from cars.
However, this development has always been a serious concern to communities around that axis because of the rising cases of crime in the neighbourhood. Every blessed day, there are reports of bag and phone snatching, attacks and clashes by cult boys and it has seriously been a threat to the lives of those living in these communities.
It has therefore become a pathetic situation because people hardly move freely, especially from 6pm-9pm. In the past, these areas used to be very lively especially during the night. It used to be a time to unwind, and some businesses used to boom at such hours. Local alcoholic drinks like palm wine, burkutu with accompaniments like peppered pork, stick meat, peppered ganda, moi moi made with palm oil, dog meat used to abound at Burkutu joints in Kabong, Jenta Adamu and Jenta Mangoro and pockets of areas. At such times, it used to be market time for these people whose economic lives have been adversely affected by the security situation in the areas. The issue is such that people hardly sleep with their eyes closed. Sometimes, gunshots rent the airspace of these communities and one begins to wonder who and where is this coming from.
Meanwhile, people are beginning to doubt the sincerity of this blackout, most especially as the headquarters of two security outfits are located along the JD Gomwalk road. If any organisation would need light most, it should be the security outfits along JD Gomwalk Road because of the nature of their job.
However, speaking to one security personnel who pleaded anonymity, he said, “During our operations, it is easier for us to view a criminal from afar in the dark than when there is light. So, it is for security reasons that we have not impressed upon the government to restore back the street lights. We want the people of this axis to understand with us”, he pleaded.
“You know, criminals, especially those cult boys in this area had been giving us serious headaches, so we are trying to see if we could eliminate them or send them out of business before addressing this light issue. You know, they usually operate using tricycles and motorcycles and they need light to operate”, he hinted.
Ironically, the major concerns of residents along that axis is their safety. As civilians, they do not have any weapons to defend themselves when these criminals strike. Their only consolation is how they can view these criminals from a distance and raise alarm to the advantage of security men.
Therefore, they are appealing to the government to look at ways of revisiting the street light issue of these roads for them to be able to assist the security in doing their job. They have also suggested that the street lights should be from Standard Junction down, if it must be for security reason.
It is certainly important to note that arresting the unexpected situation is better than allowing the expected to happen before taking action. Yes, it is quite wise to be ahead of an enemy using security tactics. But the police cannot be everywhere at the same time. There should be a mechanism that would help save the people first before facing the enemy. Because in the course of operations, innocent people can be victims.
