By EZEKIEL DONTINNA
THE Correspondents Chapel’s Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Plateau State Council, Mr. Polycarp Auta, has identified dialogue as the main tool for conflict resolution and called on citizens to embrace it.
He stated this recently while delivering a welcome address at the Peace Dialogue with Youths organised by the Correspondents Chapel supported by Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), held in Barkin-Ladi.
The occasion, which was titled, ‘Inter-ethnic and Religious Dialogue: Toward Ensuring Food Security in Plateau’, had in attendance stakeholders from the state.
He called on citizens to support and cooperate with the security agencies deployed to their communities ” in their bid to stem out bad elements causing mayhem.”
He lamented that there were a few bad eggs within the security circles and appealed to citizens to look at the larger picture and maintain a cordial relationship with the security personnel deployed to protect their communities.
In a keynote address, Major General Abdusalam Abubakar, the Commander of Special Tasks Force (OPSH), said that the military had adopted a myriad of non-kinetic approaches towards stemming the tide of insecurity in the state.
Represented by Col. Usman Abdusalam, Abubakar said that OPSH had launched a series of aggressive operations against kidnappers, cattle rustlers, armed robbers and illegal gun manufacturers, among other criminal elements, within its areas of responsibility.
The commander, who doubles as the General Officer Commanding, 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba, described the summit as timely, adding that the organisers had keyed into the peace efforts of the government and the taskforce.
Earlier, the Guest Speaker, Rev. Fr. Stephen Akpe, attributed the looming food crisis in the state to persistent conflicts that had, over the years, hindered farmers from cultivating their farmlands.
He maintained that interfaith dialogue remains a major tool toward addressing the current security challenges in the state and called on the youths to collectively develop an approach that would breed lasting peace, tolerance and unity in the society.
