Tucked in an otherwise serene locality in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, a settlement known as Congo-Russia has created an unwanted image as a place where drugs, prostitution, cheap sex, gambling and violence have become so common that youths in the community easily succumb to these vices.
The streets of Congo-Russia may look harmless from the outside, but within its confines, they tell the story of raw, unfiltered and unfettered desolation that only the strong-hearted can walk through, especially at night.
Though many still prefer to call the community by its original name, Chwelnyap, Congo-Russia can best be described as a settlement where residents live a life of daily survival, grit and an instinct to survive from day to day.
Beneath the surface, Congo-Russia is a neighbourhood where diverse lives collide, bound together by the raw realities of urban street culture. It is an environment where drugs and sex appear to form a kinship among youths, often accompanied by conflicts ranging from ethno-religious crises to robbery and street muggings.
Congo-Russia is easily defined by its complex history of violence and the vibrant, everyday hustle of the inner city. It has become notorious for all the wrong reasons, so much so that even security operatives are said to fear going into the settlement to make arrests.
The illicit drug trade is so robust that it has been a major factor in uniting the youths of the community.
Another factor that has contributed significantly to Congo-Russia’s notoriety as one of the major black spots in Jos is the presence of the Sara Suka gang.
The Sara Suka gang, a notorious criminal network made up largely of youths, has found a base in Congo-Russia and has been actively involved in criminal activities, including violent street attacks, physical assault, extortion, armed robbery, drug abuse, political thuggery, enforcement, homicide and murder across the community and its environs.
The gang mostly recruits young males between the ages of 14 and 30, but in the last five years, it has reportedly embarked on a recruitment drive that has included young girls and women in an effort to expand its hold on the territory.
The Sara Suka gang, according to available records, started as a political support group for some prominent politicians in Plateau State before spreading to other northern states such as Bauchi, Kaduna and Niger.
An older resident of Congo-Russia, Agwom Izang, who spoke to our correspondent about the emergence of the gang, said:
“The Sara Suka gang has been a big menace to us here in Congo-Russia and environs like Angwan Rogo. They operate as if they are the owners of the community.
“They openly wield dangerous weapons like guns, machetes, double-edged blades, swords and axes, and rob people in broad daylight. Once they decide to go on the rampage, they are unstoppable, and even security operatives dread confronting them.
“They terrorize residents and passersby and are generally known for violent clashes and attacks on innocent community members, sometimes leading to serious injuries and deaths.”
However, despite the open drug dealing, addiction, prostitution, street gangs and violence prevalent in Congo-Russia, there have been several attempts to rehabilitate vulnerable youths, with little tangible success. The vices appear to have become the norm and are proving difficult to curb.
The lifestyle in Congo-Russia appears to have had a greater influence on youths and has gradually but steadily bridged ethnic and religious barriers despite efforts by religious bodies, NGOs and advocates to intervene and stem the tide.
Over the years, Christian and Muslim bodies have come together to hold seminars and symposiums for the youths, but these programmes seem to be cases of pouring water into a basket, as the vices continue to grow instead of abating.
A youth leader, Pam Titus, summed up the situation in Congo-Russia:
“This is one of the most vulnerable communities in Jos. Many youths smoke Indian hemp, and there is the issue of child prostitution. The girls, even some married women, are into prostitution, while some boys are into stealing and armed robbery.
“The security personnel are not helping matters. They are compromised. These drugs don’t fall from the sky; they pass through our major roads.”
Congo-Russia: Inside Jos community where drugs, violence, prostitution thrive