Farmers/Herders Clash: NGO engage over 60 youths on peaceful coexistence
Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos
Over 60 youths were on Monday tasked to shun violence and imbibe attitude that will further unite trouble communities they represent and by extension the country at large.
Speaking at a forum tagged ‘Building Bridges’ between Farmers and Herders, held in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, the State Coordinator for the project, Patience Chaimang, said elders and youths of the Communities should work in tandem as that will give room for enduring peace in the hitherto troubled areas.
Chaimang said the essence of the project is aimed at bringing back the peace that was once lost between farmers and herders in the once crisis bedevilled communities.
“Engaging the youths in an interactive section will help address the issues that has hitherto brought civil unrest between farmers and herders in Barkin-Ladi and Riyom LGA in Plateau State, Zangokataf and Kachia LGA of Kaduna State and Dama and Kiyana LGA of Nassarawa State”, she said.
A co-convener of the project, Mr. Japhet Philip who is also the Project Officer for the Project, said herders and farmers has a long history of peaceful coexistence, but since 2001 when the crisis in Jos started, it affected their relationship, adding that the project seeks to restore the once lost harmonious living between both communities.
On his part, the Youth Leader in Barkin-Ladi, Mr. Lawrence Rondong, said the initiative for organising an interactive section between the youths of various communities will foster the much needed peace.
Responding, one of the participants, a youth from the Fulani community, Mohammed Suleiman, said the forum should also seek ways to engage the Fulani leaders in dialogue with the leaders of their host communities, saying that the Fulani heads have absolute control on their youths.
Our correspondent reports that the forum was organized by Search for Common Ground (SFCG), in partnership with Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC).
