As a peace maker and peace worker who has worked and is still working for peace in Plateau State and other states of the Nigerian federation, I was superlatively happy when I heard about the truss reached between the Irigwe nation its Fulani community, especially coming at a time when there are rising security concerns in Bassa local government area of the state in recent months.
By this agreement to live in peace with each other, it means the two neighbours have identified the causes of the crisis and at the same time, identified the perpetrators.
It is a truism that for you to tackle any problem or challenge, you must first identify its roots and tackle it from there.
Based on the agreement after their meeting, it is obvious that the “unknown” gun men that we were hearing time immemorial in fact, right from birth, have been made known either by circumstance or by genuine repentance.
At the risk of being called a prophet of doom, I must be bold to say that, Nigeria is a very funny country, full of deceptions, where sane persons sit at meetings, deceived themselves, drink tea, eat lunch and walk away while the real persons who are the cause of the crisis are in the bushes not even aware that there was any meeting of any sort.
Having witnessed almost all the crises in Jos, I know that whenever there is peace meeting, in most cases, the criminals will strike the same day in the night to cause more havoc than the one that was discussed or purportedly resolved.
If the peace treaty agreed upon by the Irigwe nation and their Fulani settlers is not the type mentioned above, then it means we know the gun men and we are not only allowing them to do what pleases them, but glorifying the act.
It is time we tell ourselves the bitter truth if we truly want to end the senseless killings in our communities.
A word, they say is enough for the wise.
Amb. John Pofi, JP
National Coordinator, Prayer Force Network.
Nigeria Star News 