A conflict expert, Rev. Fr. Stephen Akpe, has urged communities in Plateau to collaborate to promote durable peace and peaceful co-existence in Plateau.
Akpe gave the advice at an event organised by the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) to commemorate the 2022 International Peace Day on Tuesday in Jos.
The event was held at Dutse-Uku community of Jos North Local Government Area of the state.
The expert, who is also the Programme Manager, Peace Building and Conflict Transformation of JDPC, said that collective efforts would go a long way to end violent conflicts in communities.
“Collaboration among communities is a very key factor toward entrenching peaceful coexistence in the society.
”Collective efforts goes a long a way to strengthen durable peace in our society and so community members must reject those voices that promote division,” he said.
Speaking on the theme of the year — ”End Racism, Build Peace” — Akpe said that racism had spilled over into ethnic differences, identity disputes and animosities which promote conflicts in communities.
He maintained that “diversity is part of ingredient and flavour that enriches life”, advising the people to put their differences aside and collaborate toward a more virile society.
Earlier, Bandicta Daber, the Coordinator of JDPC, said that the event was organised in collaboration with Scripture Union West Africa (SUWA) and funded by Tearfund.
She explained that the meeting was organised to further sensitise stakeholders in communities to further consolidate on the relative peace being currently enjoyed in Plateau.
She explained that her organisation had been working toward ending violent conflicts in the community since 2001 and urged participants at the event to preach peace at all times.
Mr Jacob Pwakim, the Chiarman of Plateau Peace Practioners Network (PPPN), decried the spate of mutual distrust among the people and urged the people to reflect deeply toward entrenching peaceful co-existence in communities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event had community and religious leaders, youth and women groups in attendance.
The event also featured panel discussion, interaction and cultural display, among others.(NAN)