Plateau State is currently the main site of ethnic and religious violence in northern Nigeria. The past decade has seen recurrent crises across the state, in urban and rural areas. The dominant discourses in the conflicts refer to political exclusion on the basis of ethnicity and religion, on the Muslim side, and fears of religious and cultural domination, among Plateau Christians. A key issue in the conflicts in Plateau State is the relationship between the state and different sections of the citizenry. This discussion paper explores why the peace in Jos was broken, when the city was previously known for its relative harmony and cosmopolitan outlook.