The Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA) issued a warning on Tuesday, stating that the recent spate of unjustified attacks on state residents could undo the meagre gains made by the state government’s conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives.
The recent attack on Du village in the Kwall area of the Irigwe chiefdom in the Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, which left some people dead and others with various degrees of injuries, was also denounced by the PPBA.
Recall that the Irigwe and Fulani people signed an Expression of Commitment to Peace Agreement in July 2021.
This was announced by Elkannah Izam, Director, Administration and Officer, through Kenneth Dakop, Team Lead, Strategic Communication, PPBA, in Jos, the State Capital.
Izam expressed his condolences to the Irigwe people and the victims of the most recent attack, but added that “there is need for continued conversation and mediation with crucial stakeholders across the state, in order to complement the kinetic operations of the security services operating in the state.
He then filed a lawsuit calling for peace, cooperation, and use of the state’s security system to root out criminal elements both within and outside of communities.
In a similar vein, the PPBA supervisory officer urged the state’s security agencies to “monitor the growing trend of purported mob activities carried out by the outlawed commercial motorbike riders within the metropolis.
“Reported cases of mob actions against innocent Nigerians by commercial motorcyclists pose a clear and present danger to the safety of citizens and a threat to the hard-won peace the state is currently enjoying,” he insisted.
He urged Nigeria Police in particular to recognise and address the current security concern. He also urged community and religious leaders, youth and women’s organisations, and other well-meaning individuals and business bodies to do the same.
