Taraba IPC Summit: Participants call for resettlement of IDPs
Jethro Yerga
Participants at the just concluded summit organised by the Taraba Independent Peace Committee in collaboration with the Kukah Centre, Secretariat of the National Peace Committee, with the support from Taraba State Government and UNESCO, have called on Taraba State Government to make concerted efforts and resettle Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the State
A communique signed by Prof. Dauda Ishaya Suntai Chairman and Ado Adamu Secretary and issued to journalists at the end of the two-day summit held at the Catholic Pastoral Center Jalingo, the State Capital, held that the diversity of the State with over 100 ethnic groups has been a source of conflicts for most part, rather than been asset and this had made the state witness violent intergroup conflicts in all three Senatorial Districts in differing frequency and intensity with many Displaced from their ancestral homes.
The participants observed that recurrent conflicts in the state have been a source of concern for many as over time, little skirmishes often result in wanton killings and massive destruction of lives and property of the people
Consequently, the summit, anchored on the theme: In Search for Peace, Unity and Reconciliation among Communities in Taraba State, called for domestication of Community Governance Structure where by stakeholders would complement government efforts at community level in maintenance of peace and order across board.
It held that the State Government should try to implement all white paper reports on various crises in the State and White paper drafting committees should be inaugurated to also draft White papers for other Commissions of inquiry reports. That Taraba State Government should depoliticize traditional institutions and comply fully with traditions and native laws of the people
On different ways of promoting peace and stability in the State, the summit maintained that government should devise innovative and modern ways of livestock management to deal with farmers/herders crises and there should be a comprehensive boundary demarcation across the State, especially, the newly created chiefdoms, districts and village areas
“Empowerment programmes of government and corporate bodies should centre on skills acquisition training for the teeming youth and women population to make them self-reliant instead of relying on white-collar jobs; Religious leaders should preach and practice peace and unity always and avoid inciting their congregants against other faiths. Also, they should desist from partisan politics;
“Security agencies should strictly adhere to their rules of engagement in crisis management and the public should volunteer useful information always; Traditional rulers should be encouraged to promote community surveillance and local intelligence networking; There should be transparent and fair judicial process in handling crisis situations;
“Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) Taraba State Council should be supported to train journalists and social media content providers on peace reporting and deescalating crisis”. The communique reads in part
It called for responsible parenting through upholding of family values and compliance with constitutional provisions to address the issue of inclusion of women, youth and people with disabilities in government
The Summit commended the Taraba State Government for establishing the Ministry of Social Justice and Reintegration and called for the creation of Taraba State Agency for Peace and Conflict Management under the Ministry to strengthen its activities;
Meanwhile, stakeholders totaling 150 participants were carefully selected for the summit. Prominent among those present were; The Aku Uka, HRM. Manu Ishaku Ada Ali, the Kpanti Zing, HRH. Alh. Suleiman Ibrahim Sambo, the Lamdo Gashaka, HRH. Alh. Zubairu Hammangabdo, Chief of Ibi, HRH. Alh. Abubakar Salihu Danbawuro, the Tii Suntai, HRH. Dauda Haruna Umaru, Chief of Bikwin, HRH. Bala Sarkin Yara and other notable personalities religion, registered youths and women groups as well as Civil Society groups working for peace in the state.
