President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched a fresh initiative aimed at ending decades of ethnic and religious conflicts in Plateau State. As part of the effort, he deployed a special presidential emissary, Dr. Abiodun Essiet, to lead high-level peace engagements across the state.
During a two-day visit, Dr. Essiet met separately with Christian leaders, traditional rulers, youth groups, and representatives of Miyetti Allah, before convening a major town hall meeting in Jos. The discussions focused on strengthening grassroots peace structures and promoting coexistence among the state’s diverse ethnic and religious groups.
In Barkin Ladi, Essiet held talks with Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo of the Regional Church Council, discussing the role of faith-based leadership in healing divisions and fostering unity. She also met Fulani leaders to deepen dialogue between herding and farming communities.
A workshop was held for leaders across all 17 Local Government Areas, centered on building community-driven peace mechanisms.
In Bassa LGA, the emissary brought together the Irigwe community, Miyetti Allah, and the local Youth Council to reinforce reconciliation efforts and support the existing 17-member peace committee.
One notable breakthrough emerged in Jos South, where a long-running dispute between farmer David Toma and some herders was resolved. After Toma’s farm was destroyed and he seized two cows, the MACBAN chairman in Bassa, Alhaji Isah Yau, paid N500,000 compensation, leading to the peaceful release of the animals. Both parties signed an agreement to maintain peace going forward.
According to the Presidency, this intervention is part of a broader national strategy to strengthen dialogue in conflict-prone areas.
Plateau State has long struggled with recurring clashes—often between predominantly Christian farming communities and Muslim Fulani herders—driven by disputes over land, representation, and deep-seated indigene/settler tensions. Since the major crisis in 2001, the violence has become more frequent and more devastating.
Categories
-
Politics
-
HeadlineNews
-
Law
-
Community
