President Bola Tinubu has dispatched his Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement (North Central), Dr. Abiodun Essiet, to lead dialogue and reconciliation efforts in a renewed move to restore peace and foster intercommunal harmony in Plateau State.
Essiet arrived last Thursday in Plateau, and spent two days meeting Christian clerics, Fulani Miyetti Allah leaders, traditional rulers, youth groups and women leaders. Her engagements culminated in a town hall meeting in Jos, where delegates from various local government areas discussed strengthening community-based peace structures and deepening coexistence among the state’s diverse ethnic and religious groups.
During a courtesy visit to Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, Chairman of the Regional Church Council in Barkin Ladi, Essiet conveyed the President’s message of unity and ethnic reconciliation. She also met widows in the community and later held a separate meeting with Fulani leaders in Barkin Ladi to promote dialogue between pastoral and farming communities.
Essiet further conducted a workshop on establishing community peace structures across the 17 local government areas before proceeding to a closed-door session with the Irigwe community, Miyetti Allah leaders and representatives of the Bassa LGA Youth Council.
Discussions focused on strengthening the existing 17-member peace committee to sustain reconciliation and coexistence.
Speaking on the mission, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, said President Tinubu remains unwavering in his commitment to inclusive governance and durable peace in the North Central region.
According to him, the Community-Based Peace Structure “is a key instrument for grassroots stability, unity and sustained dialogue.”A major early gain of the intervention was the resolution of a dispute between Agha Farm owner David Toma and some herdsmen in Gyel, Jos South, after cows destroyed part of his farm.
The Chairman of MACBAN in Bassa LGA, Alhaji Isah Yau, paid N500,000 compensation to Toma on November 15, leading to the release of the seized cows. Both parties signed an undertaking to maintain peace.
