NGO sustains campaign to end farmers, herders’ clash

Campaign to end the incessant clashes between farmers and herders has further been sustained by a Non-governmental organisation (NGO), otherwise known as Global Peace and life Rescue Initiative ( GOPRI ).

The push to end the conflict was captured in a one day summit held on Tuesday in Jos the Plateau State capital.

In a lecture delivered by Mr. Sani Suleiman, a Senior Program Manager at Search for Common Ground, admonished the warring groups to stop their hostilities and find a common ground where both parties would see themselves as partners crucial in boosting the economic growth of the country.

Suleiman said the fight between farmers and herdsmen has taking both religious and ethnic coloration, which is a time bomb waiting to destroy the entire country if not checked.

He said before now both Christians and Muslims alike celebrate festivities together without rancour and without anyone sighting difference between both religion,

adding that the aim of the various summits held in this regard, is to end the hostility and bring back the good old days where Nigerians see themselves as one indivisible country, where not even farmers and herders, religion or ethnicity could cause a divide, he said.

Also at the forum, the Special Task Force Commander in Plateau, Major General Anthony Atolagbe, said the crisis between herdsmen and farmers in Plateau will soon be a thing of the past as he has given a matching order with dispatch to all those concerned to maintain peace and tranquillity in their various domain.

Gen. Atolagbe warned that law does not respect class, religion, language and tribe, if violated, stressing that no section of people is above the law and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He urged citizens to continue to corporate with security agencies to sustain the existing peace in the state.

“I am calling on them to continue with the corporation and peace parley held in various fora aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence”, he said.

On his part, the Director General, GOPRI, Melvin Ejeh, said peace is very important, adding that the State will return to what it is known to be as home of Peace and Tourism.

“I am appealing to residents of Plateau to continue to stay peacefully with one another”.

Ejeh commended the Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, for his efforts at restoring peace in the state .

However, the occasion also doubled as a spring board to recognise one Sadeeq Plaza, whom according to GOPRI, is a philanthropist and someone who has promoted peaceful coexistence among citizens of Plateau State.

Our correspondent reports that the occasion was attended by stakeholders in the peace building business across the State.

By Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos