President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on political, traditional, and community leaders from Plateau State to return home with a renewed commitment to peace and take concrete steps to end the state’s recurring crises.
This is contained in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Spokesperson to the President on Wednesday.
The President made the appeal on Tuesday during an interactive session with stakeholders at the State House in Abuja. He urged the delegation, led by Governor Caleb Mutfwang, to review previous government White Papers on security issues and propose practical solutions for implementation.
Participants at the meeting, including youth representatives, identified key drivers of past conflicts such as indigeneship disputes, religion, ethnicity, and clashes between farmers and herders. They pledged to work collectively to ensure lasting peace in the state.
The meeting followed President Tinubu’s earlier promise to engage Plateau stakeholders after the March 29 violence in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area.
The delegation included prominent figures such as Nentawe Yilwatda, former governors Simon Lalong, Jonah Jang, Joshua Dariye, and Fidelis Tapgun, alongside traditional and religious leaders.
During the session, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mohammed Dorro, announced that the Federal Government had approved N2 billion in relief support for victims of the March 29 attack.
President Tinubu stressed the importance of tolerance and unity, urging leaders to take responsibility in addressing the root causes of violence.
“No protocols, no hindrances — we are here to speak our minds and find a permanent solution,” the President said, adding that leaders must ensure peaceful coexistence and prevent the manipulation of communities into conflict.
He further called on the Plateau State government to identify and prosecute individuals inciting violence, while emphasizing justice, fairness, and inclusion as key pillars for sustainable peace.
Governor Mutfwang, in his remarks, thanked the President for his intervention and pledged the commitment of Plateau leaders to support peace-building efforts. He noted that the meeting marked the first time all former governors of the state had gathered to address the crisis collectively.
“Our presence here shows a renewed spirit of unity. We are determined to rise above divisions and build a state we can all be proud of,” the governor said.
Also speaking, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, commended the President’s leadership and called for increased security deployment, including more troops and surveillance infrastructure. He also advocated for the creation of state police as a long-term solution to insecurity.
Other stakeholders, including youth representatives and lawmakers such as Idris Wase, emphasized the need for strict enforcement of the rule of law and highlighted the role of drug abuse in fueling insecurity.
The meeting, which lasted about three hours, ended with a collective commitment by stakeholders to pursue dialogue, reconciliation, and concrete actions aimed at restoring lasting peace in Plateau State.
