By Marie-Therese Nanlong

JOS—Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has expressed concern that despite the efforts put in place to ensure lasting peace in the state, some senseless acts of violence wee still being recorded in parts of the state.

Simon Lalong

He said his administration would not rest on its oars as its continued to explore viable ways of ensuring safety of lives and property of citizens of the state.

Governor Lalong stated this during a two-day capacity building workshop on inter-agency cooperation, networking and professionalism in conflict prevention, management and resolution organized by the Institute of Governance and Social Research, IGSR.

Represented at the event by his Deputy, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, the governor stressed that peace building, as a fulcrum of his administration, had led to advanced plans in establishing a Bureau for peace and conflict resolution and the set up of a peace resolution committee between Fulani and Berom, with the hope that “we will find lasting solution to the protracted killings, cattle rustling and others.”

He noted that the workshop organized by IGSR was timely, considering all the security challenges facing the state and Nigeria in general.

“Plateau State government is determined to address head-long the challenges of peace and security in the state, knowing well that no meaningful development can take place in an insecure or unstable environment,’’ Governor Lalong said.

Also, the Commander, Operation Safe Haven, Major-General Tagbo Udeh, while speaking at a day Consultation and Stakeholders engagement with Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies responsible for employment and empowerment schemes in the state, outlined factors which caused the prolonged crises.

Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Brigadier-General Mohammed Mogaji, at the event organized by Centre for the Advocacy of Justice and Rights, CAJR, he said: “Proliferation of small arms, armed robbery, drug trafficking and consumption, religious intolerance, deep-rooted hatred and lack of mechanism to check the excesses of the youth militias are some of the reasons security challenges are prolonged in the state.”

He condemned the shooting of cows, cattle rustling, poisoning of grazing areas, destruction of crops/farmlands, land ownership and land boundary dispute and burning of houses by gunmen and appealed to the warring factions to forgive and embrace one another as well as give peace a chance in the state.

His words: “Peace can only be achieved in the State when the citizens agree among themselves to seek peace, accept one another and shun violence. The crises in Riyom and Barkin Ladi and other affected areas are seriously affecting the economic activities in those areas.

“People can no longer go to farm, graze their animals due to fear of being attacked. Women and children are seriously affected, the education of these children are negatively affected, how long will these continue? We must work together and not lose focus until the dream of a violent-free Plateau is achieved.”