Plateau State Interfaith Mediation Group Condemns recent attack on JMDB Enforcement Team in Bukuru calls for Dialogue

A group by the name ‘Plateau State Interfaith Mediation Group’ has condemned the recent attack on the enforcement team of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) who were enforcing the Executive Order No. 3 in the Bukuru market area. The group also condemned the consequent looting and arson unleashed on the property of innocent traders and commuters at the area which left one person dead and others injured.

In a statement by the group’s Co-Chairmen Evang. Ringsum John and Imam Othman Ibrahim on Saturday 6th July 2024, the group called on Interfaith Youth Groups to always seek dialogue rather than encourage destruction of lives and property, while also urging government not to relent in engaging and dialoguing with the public on her policies.

This statement was issued at the end of the group’s engagement dialogue with the Interfaith Youth Forum Jos-South and Jos-North LGAs on the topic ‘THE ROLE OF INTERFAITH YOUTH ON GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT IN PLATEAU STATE’ held at the Tekan Headquarters, Jos.

Part of the statement reads “In the course of government regulating economic and social relations among its citizens, conflict of interest is inevitable, especially in the enforcement of laws, rights and monitoring to ensure citizens are law a biding, some misinterpreted misunderstood and became reactionary. Example includes what happen on Sallah day in Bukuru.”

“As an interfaith mediation group, we found this indeed regrettable and condemnable and unacceptable in a 21st century where dialogue and cross fertilization of ideas between government and the public can solve problems, rather than embarking on violent destructions of properties in their millions.”

“At this juncture, we are calling on interfaith youths of both Jos-South to always result to dialogue rather than violence. Again, we are calling a religion leaders and faith base organizations like us to help sensitizes the youths and members of the public with information of government policy to avoid the misconception and misinterpretations of viable projects in the State. Also its important for religious leaders to teach their subjects the truth and should also avoid politicizing good government policy as that will retard our progress in the state.”

They also called on government to engage the leadership of Churches and Mosques to ensure that the true concept of the Executive Order No. 3 is understood and accepted beyond media campaigns alone.

“Government should as a matter of urgency engage with all religions leaders and faith base organization to synergies toward, taking the government policy beyond media broadcasting alone, but rather to take it down to churches and mosques for easy assimilation of government programmes and intentions which will helps a lot.”

The group thanked the Plateau State Government for various developmental interventions and for supporting Plateau citizens at home and in Diaspora. They called for efforts such as subsidy of the Metro-Bus and delibrate programs that will empower youths to alleviate the current economic hardship, while encouraging the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to step up operations in order to stem the surge of drug abuse in order to prevent unnecessary violent reactions leading to the destruction of lives and property.

“Plateau State government also of recent made deliberate developmental effort on projects which will be difficult for each individuals to provide for themselves, these projects are better produced collectively through government. Example here includes roads, health care, Educational Scholarships to students, metro-transportation Buses, environmental sanitation and the JMDB activity in providing an enabling environment for investors to come and set up business for employment opportunities”.

“We equally advice, that government should embark on deliberate and purposeful youth empowerment because its said that an idle mind is the devils workshop. NDLE should step up in its fight against illicit substances and drug abuse among youth and parents which gave reasons to why violent among youth easily triggers or escalates at a small provocation causing huge destruction as noticed in recent time.”

“We also advice government to be deliberately and considerable to the hardship which we know it is nationwide on the poor and the aged citizens in the areas of provision of health care services, foodstuff, transportation and an alternative options to local marketers; also we plead with government subsidize the metro-buses registration cost and adequate provision of fertilizer, to farmers at a good price and at the right terms.”