President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday urged leaders from Plateau State to work together to end recurring violence, calling for tolerance and practical solutions to long-standing conflicts.
At a three-hour meeting in Abuja, Tinubu asked stakeholders to return home with “open minds” and review past government white papers on security crises. He said leaders should agree on implementable steps and report back to the federal government.
The meeting followed the March 29 violence in Angwa Rukuba, Jos North.
The President also approved ₦2 billion in relief support for victims of the attack, according to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mohammed Dorro.
Tinubu said peace would only be achieved if leaders committed to justice, fairness and coexistence, urging them to identify and prosecute those inciting violence.
“We must first accept tolerance for every inhabitant. If people are being recruited to provoke conflict, leaders must examine themselves,” he said.
Participants at the meeting cited indigeneship, religion, ethnicity and farmer-herder clashes as key drivers of conflict.
The delegation included current and former political leaders, traditional rulers and youth representatives, among them former governors Simon Lalong, Jonah Jang and Joshua Dariye, as well as APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang said the meeting marked a turning point, noting it was the first time all former governors gathered to address the crisis together. He pledged to close divisions and build lasting peace.
The Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, called for more security deployments and surveillance infrastructure, and renewed calls for state police.
Youth representatives pledged to support peace efforts, while lawmakers stressed the need to enforce the rule of law and address drug abuse linked to insecurity.
Tinubu directed the leaders to hold follow-up meetings in the state, review past reports and submit practical recommendations, assuring them of continued federal support for peace and development.
