From Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
In an effort to mitigate conflict and halt violence in communities across Plateau State, there is need for the Early Warning Early Response (EWER) system in the state to be well defined, robust and highly inclusive where stakeholders at the community level work in synergy with both conventional and non-conventional security operatives.
Those were some of the submissions made by participants at a One-day sensitisation engagement in Jos, the State Capital, organized by CLEEN Foundation and International Alert for members of Peace and Security Platforms (PSP) drawn from Mararaban Dare and Irigwe communities of Bassa and Rafin Bauna and Kuru communities of Jos South Local Government Areas of the State.
According to the participants, the linkages between the PSP members in the various communities and the security architecture in the state was crucial if the persistent cases of conflict between farmers and pastoralists and, attacks on communities by armed groups was to be checked.
In his remarks, the Director Administration and Officer overseeing Plateau Peace Building Agency, PPBA, Mr. Elkannah Izam, noted that the “gap between the early warning and early response components of the system was wide” especially the latter part which often led to violent conflicts or attacks on hapless citizens and communities.
Izam however commended the two Organisations, for stepping in to set up the local structures in order to fill in the missing pieces in conflict prevention and peacebuilding in the state.
He then assured the organisers and all other Non-Governmental Organisations that, “PPBA would continue to partner and collaborate with them in entrenching the ideals of peace and peaceful coexistence amongst the diverse ethno-religious organisations that are found in the state”.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Program Manager International Alert, Mr. Anicetus Atakpu commended members of the PSP which he said were inaugurated in the state some months earlier to serve as early respondents to issues of conflict as it affects peace and security in their respective communities.
He noted that the choice of the four communities in the two LGAs in the State was deliberate owing to their antecedents of violent conflict in the recent past.
The Program Manager however expressed delight that the PSP members were already working round the clock to ensure that “peace, security and social cohesion” was fostered between them and other neighbouring communities.
Atakpu disclosed that the report of a recent study conducted by the International Alert and CLEEN Foundation on the conflict in some parts of the State would soon be made public and another session organised for members of PSP to carry out validation.
In their separate remarks, the Senior District Head, Kwall in Irigwe Chiefdom of Bassa LGA and Ardo Mato Useini of Mararaban Dare community both sued for peace and peaceful coexistence amongst their subject stressing that since the return of peace to their respective communities, they have been able to build bridges of tolerance and understanding across hitherto hostile communities.
The traditional leaders used the forum to call on government and other INGOs to provide their communities with social amenities such as schools, standard health facilities, pipe-borne water, electricity so as to enable them further engage in other entrepreneurial activities.
