Ice Prince Reflects on 2001 Jos Crisis: “It Was a Full-Blown War”

Nigerian musician Panshak Zamani, popularly known as Ice Prince, has opened up about his harrowing memories of the 2001 Jos Crisis, describing it as a full-scale war that left lasting scars on the city and its residents.

Speaking on Echoo Room with actor Teddy A, the Aboki crooner revealed that although he was still young at the time, the violent events remain vivid in his memory. He recalled how both churches and mosques were reportedly involved in distributing weapons, turning the streets of Jos into dangerous battlegrounds.

“You would see heads on the ground, legs on the ground and stuff like that, but it was so underreported,” Ice Prince said. He lamented that despite the severity of the crisis, the media coverage was minimal, leaving many Nigerians unaware of the human cost of the conflict.

The musician’s account paints a chilling picture of a city gripped by fear, where ordinary life was overshadowed by violence and chaos.

Opinion: Ice Prince’s reflections serve as a stark reminder of how underreported conflicts can leave deep psychological and social scars on communities. While the world often focuses on contemporary crises, revisiting past events like the Jos Crisis is crucial — not just to honor those affected, but also to learn lessons that can prevent history from repeating itself.

Furthermore, the crisis highlights a worrying trend: the gap between events on the ground and the attention they receive in media narratives. For survivors like Ice Prince, the memories are vivid and real, yet the broader public may never fully grasp the scale of suffering. Sharing these stories can help raise awareness, promote reconciliation, and encourage stronger reporting standards during conflicts.