US embassy cable - 04ABUJA1753

UNCLAS ABUJA 001753 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DRL FOR KENNETH M. DURKIN 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, KIRF, PGOV, PREL, KDEM, NI 
SUBJECT: GON COMMITTEE SAYS ALMOST 54,000 KILLED IN 
PLATEAU STATE SINCE 2001 
 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary.  A committee appointed by the 
Plateau State Sole Administrator reported on October 7 
that nearly 54,000 people have been killed in Plateau 
State since the September 7, 2001, riots in Jos.  Until 
now, total casualties nationwide during President 
Obasanjo's regime have been estimated at 10,000.  End 
Summary. 
 
2.  (U) A Committee of Rehabilitation and 
Reconciliation of Internally Displaced People, 
appointed by the Plateau State Sole Administrator, who 
took over from suspended Governor Joshua Dariye when a 
State of Emergency (SOE) was declared on May 18, 
reported on October 7 that nearly 54,000 people have 
been killed in Plateau State since the September 7, 
2001, riots in Jos.  The chairman of the Committee said 
that about 19,000 men, 17,000 women, and 17,000 
children had been killed, for a total of 53,787 deaths. 
 
3.  (SBU) The staff assistant to suspended Plateau 
State Governor Joshua Dariye told Poloff the 
Committee's figures were "outrageous and ridiculous." 
He pointed out that the methodology of compiling totals 
by collecting anecdotes from residents was not 
reliable, and claimed that the Committee did not cross- 
check existing state records before releasing the 
report results to the press. 
 
4.  (SBU) The head of the GON's National Commission for 
Refugees agreed that the Committee's methodology was 
faulty, but said that the overall number of deaths was 
"believable."  He told Poloff that he was a member of 
the Committee that produced the report, but he was out 
of the country when the final report was compiled.  He 
promised to forward a copy of the report to Poloff when 
he received it. 
 
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Comment 
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5.  (SBU) Until now, total casualties nationwide since 
President Obasanjo was inaugurated in 1999 have been 
estimated at around 10,000.  The new figure from this 
Committee in Plateau State alone would be several times 
the previous figure for the country as a whole.  The 
explanation may lie in the upcoming expiration of 
Plateau State's six-month State of Emergency (SOE) on 
November 18, and the prospect of suspended Governor 
Dariye's returning to his office.  The release of this 
report may have been a political move by the GON to 
block Dariye's reinstatement.  It is the Presidency, 
however, that is responsible for Nigeria's security 
forces--the police, the military, and the State 
Security Service (SSS), and others. 
 
ROBERTS