Plateau State has been in the news for the wrong reasons for almost a decade due to the recurring herders/farmers conflicts which have displaced thousands, claimed hundreds of lives and property worth millions of Naira destroyed.
The incessant conflicts had in the past robbed the once peaceful area of the opportunity to harness its tourism potentials and raise its internally generated revenue from the abundantly endowed natural resources like serene waterfalls, beautiful rock formations, breathtaking landscape as well as lush areas.
On assumption of office , The Plateau state government established a peace building agency .
In order to ensure an improved relationship between farmers and herders in Plateau State, Government established a peace building agency .
Director General, Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA), Mr. Joseph Lengmang while speaking with our correspondent some months ago said the agency was created to nurture and promote mutual trust among residents of the State.
Lengmang added that the agency has begin working out steps to promote harmonious co-existence among ethnic and religious groups in the State.
He maintained that the agency, which was established by an act of legislation in February 2016, had a primary mandate of preventing violent conflicts and consolidating on the peace currently being enjoyed on the hitherto conflict ridden State.
“Our mandate is to seek out the issues and deal with them at the latent stages with the aim of tackling them before they escalate into violent conflicts.
Lengmang further explained that, the agency was working with state and non-state actors towards a collaborative synergy that would make Plateau a peaceful haven for all.
He said that the agency had long started its mandate by conducting advocacy campaigns to enlighten the people on the functions of PBA and how it was contributing to peace building.
Efforts of the peacebuilding efforts has started paying off as a joint peace summit between Bachit and Irigwe communities of Plateau State, that use to a battle ground, have resolved that they would ensure that they work together for the growth and development of the communities.
The resolution was reached at the end of the joint peace summit of the two communities held in Bassa local government area of the state.
The resolution of the peace summit was presented at the conference hall of the Old Government House in Rayfield before the traditional rulers, security agencies, representatives of the two communities, youths and women groups among others.
The President of Irigwe Community Development Association (ICDA), Hon. Sunday Abdu, who read the resolution on behalf of the two communities, said that they have been living together as neighbours for several years, adding that they would not allow the interest of few individuals to tear them apart.
Abdu regretted that because of the animosity, many lives and property have been lost as a result of the unfortunate development, adding that the violence and hostility occasioned as a result between the two communities must be stopped and thereby stopped forthwith for good.
He further pointed out that any land dispute or whatsoever among individuals should exhaust all available avenues to resolve them but not to take laws into their hands.
He also condemned the activities of criminal elements who are masquerading as ethnic fighters adding that they must be stopped, saying that each time they want to perpetrate their nefarious crimes they used ethnicity and religion as criminal colouration.
They appreciated the intervention of the security agencies, especially the Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), the Plateau State Government and all other organisations that contribute to the peace process in the area.
They specifically appreciated the state government’s effort at resolving the land boundary dispute between the two communities.
In his remarks, Commander of OPSH, Major – General Augustine Agundu, represented by the Chief of Staff, Brigadier – General Mohammed Bello, appreciated the resolve of the communities to foster peace among themselves, maintaining that the security agencies will continue to collaborate with the communities, leaders and all interest groups to restore lasting peace in the area.
Director – General, Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA), Joseph Lengmang, represented by the Director of Programmes, Godwin Okoko, said that their mandate was to restore peace and the entire state, urging the community leaders to always prevail on their subjects to be peaceful.
It could be recalled that Plateau State Governor Hon. Simon Lalong had recently said the state and Northern Nigeria is ready to adopt modern livestock production.
Lalong who is also the Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum state this recently while
meeting with the Kenyan Council of Governors (KCOG).
A statement signed by Dr. Makut Simon Macham the
Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State reads that Lalong discussed issues around agriculture value chain addition and tackling poverty through the utilization of cooperatives.
” Lalong who was at Muranga County was received by the Governor Mwangi Wa Iria and members of his legislative body at the County office.”
“He told his host that he was in the country on a peer review visit on behalf of the Northern Governors Forum which mandated him to carry out the mission in order to explore areas of collaboration that both countries can learn from.”
“He explained that the Northern part of Nigeria has similar characteristics with many Counties in Kenya which are mostly agrarian and rely on food production for income and jobs.”
He was happy to note that Muranga County in Particular was using the Cooperative model to empower households and creating value chain addition in agriculture especially animal husbandry.
He told his host that Plateau State shares similar topography and weather with Muranga County and as such will be interested in forging closer relations that will yield positive results for the benefits of the citizens of both States.”
“We need to learn from each other and see what works in one country and copy. We cannot be going to other parts of the world to look for African Solutions when we have our brothers with whom we share many things in common close to us. When I arrived here, I saw the mountainous nature of this place and the kind of vegetation and crops that you cultivate here, I thought I was in my State of Plateau.
Governor Mwangi Wa Iria informed Governor Lalong that his County has continued to implement social programmes especially the ones that touch the very poor who really need assistance.
He cited the livestock programme which is tagged “One household, One Cow” in which families especially indigent ones are encouraged and assisted to raise cows that produce milk that is then purchased by the County Cooperative Society which has a diary processing factory that buys off from them for processing and value addition.
He said, “we have created many jobs through this and we have reduced to insignificant level any issue of conflict arising from livestock production because there is involvement of almost everybody. In addition, all our children are given free milk every day from the Cooperative Diary Factory which has now enhanced our School enrolment.
He later took Governor Lalong to the Diary Processing Factory where he was shown round the production chain and packaging.
Lalong who was delighted at the achievement of the county said the Governors of the Northern States of Nigeria will be willing to learn from the County particularly as they continue to look for ways to adopt modern livestock production.
He promised to agree with his colleagues in the Northern Governors Forum back home on a suitable date for a return visit where they will be exposed to Nigeria and its opportunities particularly in the Northern Region.
Meanwhile Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Plateau have appealed to the Federal Government and international Community to render assistance to them just like their counterparts in the North-East.
Prince Barnabas Philip, IDPs’ Camp Coordinator, Barkin Ladi, made the call during a two day Meet the IDPs tour by the Management Committee Chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government of a Plateau, Ezekiel Mondyau.
Our correspondent reports that most of Camp coordinators, who spoke in the various camps visited, made the same request.
Mondyau told the IDPs that it was out of Government’s concern that he embarked on the two day meet the IDPs tour and assured them of Government’ readiness to assist them to return to their respective communities.
Mondyau pledged to relate their plights and pleas to both the state and federal government for necessary assistance, but also assured them of his “widow’s might” at alleviating their plights.
He said part of Governor Simon Lalong plans, was ensure that all the IDPs in the 12 camps returned to their respective communities before the new year
It could be recalled that Plateau state Governor Simon Lalong has again assured Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state of returning to their ancestral homes with a new life and a peaceful environment.
Lalong who was represented by his Deputy Governor Professor Sonnie Tyoden, made this known while speaking with newsmen in Jos the state capital after attending the 97th General Church Council of the Church of Christ in Nations COCIN .
The deputy Governor said the Simon Lalong led administration is desirous and committed towards ensuring that peace is achieved permanently in the state, saying he stands for all tribes in Plateau.
He said the Simon Lalong led adminstration recently relocated some IDPs to their ancestral homes and is planning to do more .
Governor Simon Lalong has received the report on IDPs resettlement committee and has expressed the government’s resolve to implement the recommendations towards returning displaced persons to their respective homes.
The Lalong administration is working to ensure
that a Mobile Barracks is established in Gashish which will take care of Barkin, Riyom, Bokkos and Mangu Local Governments of the state.
He further said the Simon Lalong led administration is committed to bettering the lives of citizens of Plateau .
Our correspondent reports that some IDPs were recently relocated to their homes by the state government in December last year .
MiddleBelt Reporters 