Representatives of the Plateau State Government, non-government organisations (NGOs), security agencies, as well as traditional and religious leaders met in the Plateau State capital, Jos, yesterday and resolved that everything possible should be done to maintain the peace across the state.
They suggested that buildings such as places of worship destroyed in times of violent conflicts in recent times should be rebuilt as part of the healing process to help enduring peace.
The Operation Safe Haven, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were represented at the meeting and 1-Day seminar on Promoting Conflict Prevention from Crime/Violence to Peaceful Coexistence in Plateau, which was organised by the Institute of Governance and Social Research (IGSR) in collaboration with the Nigerian Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
The peace stakeholders, through the Chairman of the meeting, Bar. Timothy Parlong, urged the introduction of intercommunity and interfaith sports activities and rehabilitation centers in addition to the rebuilding of infrastructure.
They also called for reintegration of people displaced by conflict into their original communities, and encouragement of interfaith marriages to reduce religious violence.