Benue House recommends Truth and Reconciliation C’ttee

Jos—Plateau State House of Assembly has called for the setting up of a truth and reconciliation commission to heal the wounds from the protracted violence in the state.

The call was part of the recommendations of a seven-man committee that organi-sed a public hearing where it listened to all stakeholders’ views on ways to end the bloodbath.

The committee, led by Istifanus Mwansat, submit-ted its report to the House, yesterday.

Speaker of the House, Mr. Clark Dabwan, who presided over the plenary, harped on the “urgent need” for the restoration of peace on the Plateau, and challenged stakeholders to bring their ideas on the way out.

He said: “There is the need for us to see how wounds inflicted on the people of Plateau State are healed through the setting up of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

“Such commissions have worked in many places and we believe it will work in Plateau State.”

The committee also recom-mended the implementation of reports of all past commissions of inquiry into the Jos crises and immediate enforcement of the ban on commercial motorcycle operation (Okada) in the state.

The House frowned at the indiscriminate possession of arms by individuals and called for a strong disarma-ment process. It also called for the return to Jos, for prosecution, all suspects involved in the crises that were taken to Abuja, and also urged the Federal Government to provide some special grant for security upkeep in Plateau.