Bishop President, Agency decry invasion of herdsmen in Plateau
The President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, on Tuesday call on security agencies to checkmate the influx of herdsmen from other States into Plateau.
Speaking at a stakeholders meeting tagged, Religious And Ethnic/Community Leaders In Conjunction With Security Agencies, Political Party Leadership And Local Government Candidates held in Jos, Kaigama also called on the people of Plateau to cultivate the spirit of oneness aimed at halting the worrisome mentality of revenge which is always the trigger for reprisal attacks.
On his part, the Director General, Plateau Peace Building Agency, Mr. Joseph Lengmang, while delivering his remark, said the whole essence of holding stakeholders meeting is to continue to build bridges of reconciliation and peace amongst the various communities in the State, which has helped in no small ways in dousing tensions which would have ordinarily thrown the State into another round of needles crisis.
Lengmang said although people have criticized the peace being enjoyed as ‘grave yard’ peace, but emphasised that a ‘grave yard’ peace is better than blood shade hence the continuous need to dialogue with stakeholders.
“Let’s continue to build bridges that will mitigate against violence act among our people and more importantly, learn to forgive one another and stop talking revenge.
“For those who say we are only experiencing ‘grave yard’ peace in the State, I say to them, is it not better than blood shade?”, he said.
However, in a communique signed at the end of the forum, the stakeholders which comprises of both religious and community leaders, security agencies and some party chairmen representatives, agreed among other nine points highlighted that “the mass influx of herdsmen from other States into Plateau, posses danger capable of sparking conflicts with natives”.
It appeal to Fulani herdsmen residing in the State to help in fishing out the invaders who are causing trouble in various communities.
By Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos
