An early Nigerian civil disturbance: the 1945 Hausa-Ibo Riot in Jos

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Periodical article

Title:	An early Nigerian civil disturbance: the 1945 Hausa-Ibo Riot in Jos
Author:	Plotnicov, L.
Year:	1971
Periodical:	Journal of Modern African Studies
Volume:	9
Issue:	2
Pages:	297-305
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Northern Nigeria
Subjects:	rebellions 1945
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/159448
Abstract:	The Kano riots of May 1953 are generally regarded as having been the first major outburst of violence between Northern Nigerians and those who later assumed the name of Biafrans. Here a neglected episode in the history of conflict between these peoples is placed on record: In October 1945, the Hausa and the Ibo in the city of Jos fought one another for two days, during which at least two people were killed, many others injured, considerable property was destroyed or damaged, and Nigerian police and army units had to be brought in from Kaduna to restore order. Later, one man was tried for homicide. Yet there is no report by the Nigerian Government on the rioting, nor any mention of it in the annual administrative reports. The Jos disturbance preceded that of Kano by 8 years and carries the infamous distinction of probably being the first occurrence of extensive intertribal rioting in modern Nigerian history. This account derives almost entirely from informants who were in Jos in 1945.