Journalists task Plateau youths on peaceful coexistence

Journalists task Plateau youths on peaceful coexistence

Peace

By Patience Aliyu

Barkin-Ladi(Plateau), June 20, 2024 (NAN) The Correspondents’ Chapel of the Plateau Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists has sensitised youths in the state on peaceful coexistence.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, held on Thursday in Barkin-Ladi, had the theme ”Inter-ethnic and Inter-religious Dialogue: Toward Ensuring Food Security in Plateau”.

Speaking at the event, Mr Polycarp Auta, Chairman of the Chapel, said that the summit was organised in collaboration with the Operation Safe Heaven (OPSH), the Special Task Force maintaining peace in Plateau and environs.

Auta said that the event with participants drawn from Bokkos, Barkin-Ladi, Riyom, Mangu and Jos South Local Government Areas of the state, would complement government’s peace efforts.

He explained that the activity also aimed at addressing the looming food scarcity in the state and country in general, by ensuring a successful farming season.

”This summit is part of our modest contribution toward the peace efforts of the state government and the security agencies, particularly the Operation Safe Heaven.

”Beyond reporting security issues, we felt the need to bring young people of different tribes and religions, from troubled communities in Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos South, to fashion out best ways toward a peaceful society.

”As the farming season set in, and Plateau being an agriculture hub, it has become necessary to remind ourselves of the looming food insecurity in the country.

”The desire to develop a collective approach that will allow farmers cultivate enough food to feed the state and nation in general informs the choice of the theme for this summit,” he said.

The chairman called on residents of the state to support and cooperate with the security agencies deployed to their communities to protect them.

”We are strongly convinced that dialogue serves as a major tool for conflict resolution; it enables the people to air out their views, concerns, and suggest possible ways toward addressing any pressing matter.

”We hope that this event will elicit conversations and change our mindsets toward tackling the current security challenges confronting our dear state.

”We wish to use this opportunity to particularly call on Plateau citizens to support the officers and men of OPSH in their bid to stem out bad elements causing mayhem in our communities.

”For us, OPSH is headed by a professional, committed and an accomplished military officer with proven integrity; one who is committed to the actualisation of a peaceful Plateau, but requires the support and cooperation of the civil populace to achieve it.

”It is true that few bad eggs exist within the security circle, but we are appealing to residents of Plateau to look at the larger picture and maintain a cordial relationship with the security personnel deployed to protect their communities.”

Earlier, Rev. Fr. Stephen Akpe, the Guest Speaker at the event, attributed the looming food crisis in the state to persistent conflicts that had, the over years, hindered farmers from cultivating their farmlands.

Akpe, who holds a PhD in Conflict Resolution and Mediation, maintained that interfaith dialogue remains a major tool toward addressing the current security challenges in the state.

He, however, called on the residents of state, particularly the youths, to develop a collective approach that would breed lasting peace, tolerance and unity in the society.

In a keynote address, Maj.-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, the Commander of OPSH, said that the military had adopted a myriad of non-kinetic approaches toward stemming the tides of insecurity in the state.

Represented by Col. Usman Abdusalam, Abubakar said that OPSH had launched a series of aggressive operations against kidnappers, cattle rustlers, armed robbers, illegal gun manufacturers, among other criminal elements, within its areas of responsibility.

The commander, who doubles as the General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba, near Jos, described the summit as timely, adding that the organisers had keyed into the peace efforts of the government and OPSH.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

PAM/AZA

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Edited by Polycarp Auta