…To seek peaceful apparatus.
by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
With the persistent and recent attacks in Plateau State, an organization, ‘News Central,’ has organized a life Town Hall Meeting with stakeholders, drawn from Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin-Ladi, Riyom and Bassa, to look for a way forward for peace to be restored in the places affected and the state large.
Speaking during the town hall meeting, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Musa Ashoms (representing Governor Barr Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang) said the State Government has empowered the Peace Building Agency to dialogue, to interface, interact and heal the wounds among communities that are affected.
“There is no community that is fighting another community in the state; it’s not conflicts but an attack,” he said, and urged the principal actors to, in the interest of peace, live and allow others to live, too.
“If we claim that all of us are indigenous, we should protect plateau; we should work hard and protect our brothers and sisters. It is important that we live as a people, and it is important that we understand,” he said.
Hon Ashoms charged journalist to always verify information before publishing. He recalled the Wase attacks where some media houses reported that 40 people were killed, which was not so.
According to him, it took them 3 days to calm down the situation, and cautioned journalists not to attach sentiments to their reports.
While commending the military and other security agencies for their efforts to restore peace in the state, the Commissioner noted that, “But, there is the need to double-up more efforts. Intelligence gathering is very important.”
Speaking earlier, the representative of Mangu, Bokkos Barkin-Ladi, Riyom and Bassa communities said “It is not conflicts, as some people are reporting, or religion, but it an attack, and is land-grabbing,” adding that, those people killing their people are foreigners brought in and Fulanis.
They called on the security agencies that, whenever they make arrests, those involved in the crime should be punished here in Plateau so that others will learn from it.
They observed that, “When there forgiveness there is peace, but when there is no forgiveness there is no peace.”
Contrary to their observations, though, representative of the Fulani communities affirmed that Fulani in Plateau have been denied indigenes form, councilor and political appointments. They said, “Forgiveness is the key; but when there is not forgiveness, it would continue.”
Speaking also, the GOC 3rd Division and the Commander OPSH (represented by the Chief of Staff of the Command) said “For us to achieve absolutely peace in the Plateau State, all of us must take the responsibility, unless there is sincerity.
Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN) Chairman also stressed the need to “respect where God leads you; live peacefully with everyone where God has placed and blessed us,” and urged the people not to take laws into their hands, and the culprit should be brought to book.