In a significant move to restore lasting peace in Plateau State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has deployed a special emissary to facilitate dialogue and reconciliation among conflicting communities.
High-Level Peace Mission Launched
Dr Abiodun Essiet, the Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement for the North Central Zone, was dispatched to Plateau State on Thursday, November 16, according to an official statement released by Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga. The peace mission spanned two intensive days of engagement with key stakeholders across the state.
The comprehensive peace initiative involved separate meetings with Christian religious leaders and Fulani Miyetti Allah community representatives, culminating in a major town hall meeting in Jos. The gathering brought together delegates from various local government areas, traditional rulers, women leaders, and youth representatives to discuss practical ways to strengthen community-based peace structures.
Faith-Based and Community Engagement
Dr Essiet paid a courtesy visit to Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, Chairman of the Regional Church Council (RCC) in Barkin Ladi, where discussions focused on the critical role of faith-based leadership in promoting peace, unity, and social development. During this engagement, she addressed some widows and conveyed President Tinubu's personal message emphasizing ethnic reconciliation in the state.
In a parallel effort to build bridges, the presidential envoy also met with Fulani leaders in Barkin Ladi to foster dialogue and mutual understanding between pastoral and farming communities. This meeting reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to inclusive engagement that leaves no community behind.
Structural Framework for Lasting Peace
The peace mission included a strategic workshop focused on establishing a community peace structure for all 17 Local Government Areas in Jos. This initiative aims to create sustainable mechanisms for conflict resolution at the grassroots level.
In a significant closed-door session, Dr Essiet mediated between the Irigwe community, the Miyetti Allah group, and representatives from the Youth Council of Bassa LGA. The discussions centered on sustaining peace and strengthening the 17-member peace committee to enhance dialogue, reconciliation, and coexistence between the communities.
Throughout her engagements, Dr Essiet consistently reiterated President Tinubu's unwavering commitment to peace and inclusive governance, emphasizing that the Community-Based Peace Structure serves as a key instrument for grassroots unity and long-term stability in the North Central region.
Tangible Results Achieved
The peace efforts yielded immediate positive outcomes, including the resolution of a specific conflict between David Toma, owner of Agha Farm in Gyel district of Jos South, and some herdsmen. The conflict had escalated when Toma seized two cows following the destruction of his farm.
In a breakthrough development on November 15, the MACBAN Chairman of Bassa LGA, Alhaji Isah Yau, paid compensation of N500,000 to Toma, who subsequently released the seized cows. All parties involved signed a formal undertaking to embrace peace in the state, marking a significant step toward sustainable conflict resolution.
