Plateau crises: Groups meet to prevent killings, reprisals
The Plateau State Interreligious Council (IRC), yesterday, held an emergency peace and security meeting to discuss better ways to address the rising insecurity and how to achieve lasting peace in the state.
The round table discussion was at the instance of the recent killings and counter killings between farmers and herders which have resulted in loss of lives and property in the villages of Riyom, Bassa and Jos South local government areas of the state.
Speaking during the meeting, Gov. Simon Bako Lalong, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Danladi Atu, decried how criminal elements are taking the state backward having achieved significant level of peace in the state, adding that his government would continue to deploy the non-kinetic approach to issues of peace and security and ensure peaceful existence among the people of the state.
He said government has taken the bold step to fully enforce the ban on motorcycle operations in Jos/Bukuru metropolis in order to curb the security challenges and other criminal activities bedevilling the state.
The Chairman of the Plateau State Interreligious Council (IRC), Rev. Prof. Pandang Yamsat, decried the current insecurity challenges, saying deliberate actions on the part of the citizens, government, religious leaders and communities are needed to arrest the rising trend of insecurity.
“Farmlands, crops and livestock, wanton killings of sacred lives on the increase, with its bandwagon effects on the socio-economic lives of the people is what calls for concerted efforts by all of us.
“Announced or not announced, we are in a state of war that is sparing no one, which demands that government, religious leaders and our security outfits and communities must rise up to checkmate the devastating situation. It is not beyond us,” Rev. Yamsat said.
He added that the government must hold security outfits and community and traditional leaders accountable for the destruction of lives and property in their communities.
The Director General of the Plateau Peace Building Agency, Mr Joseph Lengmang, said the growing insecurity has given a serious concern to stakeholders and necessitated the emergency meeting to proffer ways to achieve peace.
He stressed that religious leaders have significant roles to play in influencing their followers positively, adding that it is important for the outcomes and resolutions of the meeting to be taken to the grassroots.