President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dispatched a peace emissary, Dr Abiodun Essiet, to Plateau State as part of renewed efforts to restore stability and strengthen intercommunal relations across the state.
In a statement, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Essiet, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), spent two days meeting key stakeholders, including Christian clerics, traditional rulers, women and youth leaders, and Fulani Miyetti Allah representatives.
The engagements culminated in a town hall meeting in Jos, where delegates from various local government areas discussed strategies to reinforce community-based peace structures and promote coexistence among diverse groups.
During a courtesy visit to Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, Chairman of the Regional Church Council (RCC) in Barkin Ladi, Essiet emphasised the pivotal role of faith-based leadership in driving unity, peace, and social development. She also addressed widows in the community, conveying President Tinubu’s message of reconciliation and national cohesion.
Essiet later met Fulani leaders in Barkin Ladi to deepen dialogue between pastoral and farming communities, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive engagement. She also conducted a workshop on establishing community peace structures across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
In a separate closed-door session with Irigwe community leaders, Miyetti Allah representatives, and the Bassa Local Government Youth Council, discussions centred on strengthening the existing 17-member peace committee to sustain dialogue and reconciliation efforts.
A notable breakthrough during her visit was the resolution of a dispute in Jos South between Agha Farm owner, David Toma, and herdsmen after two cows were seized over farm damage. The Chairman of MACBAN in Bassa LGA, Alhaji Isah Yau, paid N500, 000 compensation to Toma on November 15, leading to the return of the cows and a renewed pledge by all parties to uphold peace.
Essiet reaffirmed President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to peace-building and inclusive governance, noting that community-based peace structures remain critical to long-term stability in the North Central region.
