In an effort to address recurring communal crises, farmers–herders conflicts, and strengthen intercommunal harmony across Plateau State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has deployed one of his senior aides, Dr. Abiodun Essiet, to lead a high-level peace mission in the state.
Dr. Essiet, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for the North Central Zone, arrived in Plateau on Thursday for a two-day working visit aimed at deepening dialogue among key stakeholders.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the presidential envoy held strategic engagements with Christian leaders, Fulani representatives under the Miyetti Allah group, and other community stakeholders before convening a broad town hall meeting in Jos.
The town hall brought together delegates from several local government areas, traditional rulers, women and youth leaders, all of whom deliberated on ways to reinforce community-based peace structures and promote sustainable coexistence among diverse ethnic groups.
During the visit, Essiet paid a courtesy call on Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, Chairman of the Regional Church Council in Barkin Ladi, where discussions focused on the influence of faith-based leadership in driving unity, peace, and social progress. She also addressed widows in the community, delivering President Tinubu’s message of ethnic reconciliation and national cohesion.
The envoy later held a parallel engagement with Fulani leaders in Barkin Ladi, emphasising stronger dialogue between pastoral and farming communities. She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s position that inclusive communication remains central to long-term stability in the region.
In Jos, Essiet conducted a workshop for representatives of the 17 local government areas, training them on establishing a functional peace architecture capable of responding swiftly to conflicts at the grassroots level.
She also facilitated a closed-door meeting involving the Irigwe community, the Miyetti Allah group, and the Bassa Youth Council, where stakeholders reviewed existing peace agreements and examined how the 17-member peace committee can deepen reconciliation efforts.
The presidential aide reiterated President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to strengthening grassroots peace initiatives, describing the Community-Based Peace Structure as a vital mechanism for dialogue and enduring stability across the North Central zone.
A notable early outcome of the peace intervention was the resolution of a dispute between Agha Farm owner, David Toma, and a group of herdsmen following the destruction of crops on his farmland. After Toma impounded two cows belonging to the herders, the MACBAN Chairman of Bassa LGA, Alhaji Isah Yau, paid N500,000 in compensation on November 15. The cows were subsequently released, and both parties signed a formal agreement to maintain peace.