President Bola Tinubu has escalated efforts to address the persistent inter-communal conflicts in Plateau State, dispatching a high-level emissary to facilitate dialogue and peacebuilding.
Abiodun Essiet, the Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement in the North Central Zone, spent two days in the state meeting with various community leaders.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information Strategy confirmed this in a statement on Sunday.
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Essiet’s mission culminated in a town hall meeting in Jos that brought together delegates from various local government areas, traditional rulers, women, and youth leaders.
The gathering focused on strengthening community-based peace structures and promoting coexistence among the state’s diverse populations.
A central component of the visit involved direct engagement with both religious and ethnic leadership.
Essiet paid a courtesy visit to the influential Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, Chairman of the Regional Church Council (RCC) in Barkin Ladi.
Dachomo, described as the loudest voice for Christian communities in the state, discussed faith-based leadership’s role in peace promotion.
Essiet conveyed Tinubu’s message of fostering ethnic reconciliation while also addressing widows in the area.
Concurrently, she held meetings with Fulani leaders in Barkin Ladi to foster mutual understanding between pastoral and farming communities, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive engagement.
This was followed by a focused closed-door meeting with the Irigwe community, the Miyetti Allah group, and Bassa LGA Youth Council representatives to discuss a 17-member peace committee aimed at dialogue and reconciliation.
The presidential peace effort achieved a notable immediate success on November 15.
A conflict involving David Toma, a farm owner in the Gyel district of Jos South, and some herdsmen was resolved. Following the destruction of his farm, Toma had seized two cows.
The MACBAN Chairman of Bassa LGA, Alhaji Isah Yau, intervened by paying a compensation of N500,000 to the farmer, who then released the seized cattle.
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All involved parties signed an undertaking to commit to peace in the state.
Essiet reiterated Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance, emphasising that the Community-Based Peace Structure is a crucial instrument for ensuring grassroots unity, dialogue, and long-term stability across the North Central region.
