Plateau CP meets stakeholders, says “forgiveness is key to genuine reconciliation”

By Daniel Agada, Jos

The commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, CP Okoro Julius Alawari has tasked stakeholders in the state to imbibe the culture of trui forgiveness which is a key to genuine reconciliation.

CP Alawari said it is high time to chart a new course of finding a lasting solution to the problems confronting Plateau and stop a blaming one another.

The Police commissioner gave the words of admonition as he host an emergency stakeholders meeting, held Friday at the Police Officers’ Mess Jos.

While addressing stakeholders who turn out for the meeting, the CP said there must be continuation of series of meetings that is going on between the Fulani’s and other members of the community to deescalate any tendency tantamount to peaceful coexistence.

“When you go back to your communities, the elders should constantly hold meetings with their youths because these are people that are going out rustling cows, there are the people that are going out to organized reprisal attacks.

“The youths are blaming the elders while the elders are blaming the youths. You must begin with reconciliation between the elders and the youths, then gather them and talk them as elders and fathers so that we can find a lasting peace.

“If we talk to our youths in sincerity of purpose so that the issues of cattle rustling, under age grazing, night grazing and reprisal attacks would stop.”

The commissioner of police advocate the need for constant synergy and communication between the security agencies and the traditional rulers for prompt action in times of eventuality.

“We should understand ourselves and do what is right. And the only way to understand ourselves is to have constant synergy between ourselves which would bring cooperation and understanding among ourselves”.

Brig.Gen.G.G.Shipi, special adviser to the governor of Plateau on security revealed that government is very passionate about peace returning to the state.

He said the government under Barr.Caleb Mutfwang led – administration has set machinery in motion, and is ready to implement solutions that would endanger peace harmonious coexistence in the state.

The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Plateau State,Rev.Father Polycarp Lubo acknowledged that the meeting is timely as he commended security personnel and Plateau government for taken proactive measures in addressing insecurity in Mangu and other parts of the state.

“We must learn how to forgive one another if not the reprisal attack would continue. Therefore, the moment we stop reprisal is the first step for peace.” CAN stated.

Muhammad Nura, chairman Miyyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Plateau State chapter said, ” this meeting is timely and I appreciate the approached in totality.

“What I am seeing today is better than what I had seen in the past. In previous meetings if we arrived here people will be apportioning blames and counter blames for one another. But today people are proffering solutions on what we should do to get over those challenges before us.”