Northern Christians, others hail President Tinubu’s action, welcome Peace Mission
Northern Christians, others hail President Tinubu’s action, welcome Peace Mission
President Bola Tinubu’s dispatch of a special envoy to Plateau State to address rising insecurity and communal violence has been welcomed by religious and community leaders, who described the initiative as a positive step toward restoring peace.
The President sent Dr. Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement for the North Central Zone, to the state last Thursday. During her two-day visit, Essiet met with Christian clerics, Fulani leaders from the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), traditional rulers, women, and youth groups.
The visit concluded with a town hall meeting in Jos focused on fostering dialogue and strengthening community-based peace structures.
Rev. Dr. John Joseph Hayab, Chairman of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in 19 states and the FCT, described the move as “a good move and very commendable,” adding, “He is realising that he has been given wrong information, so he is changing tactics to obtain the correct information. The President cannot be everywhere. There is nothing that brings healing like showing genuine concern for those who are being killed or their families.”
Hayab further stressed that peace in Plateau, Zamfara, Benue, Southern Kaduna, and other affected regions would pave the way for development.
Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo of the Regional Church Council (RCC) in Barkin Ladi confirmed that discussions with the federal delegation would continue on Tuesday. He urged the government to acknowledge what he described as “Christian genocide” in Plateau, arguing that public recognition of the atrocities is crucial to preventing further violence.
“It is obvious that Christians are being killed in their communities. People should stop generalising it to water down the atrocities against Christians in Plateau State,” he said.
On the other hand, Yusuf Babayo, chairman of MACBAN in Plateau State, welcomed the initiative, promising full cooperation with Essiet’s team to achieve lasting peace. He noted, “If this kind of dialogue had been held regularly in the past, the situation would not have degenerated to its current level.”
The national president of MACBAN, Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, also praised Tinubu’s intervention. He highlighted the complexity of the Plateau crises, pointing to conflicts among indigenes and settlers, ethnic militias, and pastoralist communities. “The way out of the crisis lies with the people themselves. Let the parties in the crisis define their own ways to peace. All the emissary needs to do is sit down with all the parties and chart a way out of the logjam,” he said.
He further criticized selective media narratives, inaction by the state governor, and some religious and traditional leaders for exacerbating tensions.
During her visit, Essiet also met with widows and faith leaders to emphasize reconciliation and the role of religious leadership in fostering social cohesion. The delegation’s engagements sought to create platforms for open dialogue and ethnic reconciliation, reflecting the President’s commitment to stabilizing the region and preventing further bloodshed.
