Host Community Rulers & Herdsmen to Sign Peace Pact to end Grazing in PLASU

By Golok Nanmwa ,Jos

Saf Butura Dr. John Gabriel Mallo Makwal has assured the management of Plateau State University, Bokkos that the problem of insecurity within and around the University community will soon be mitigated as the traditional council and leaders of Fulani are working on a peace pact which they will soon sign to end the spate of clashes between the natives and Fulanis.

He gave the assurance when the Vice Chancellor of Plateau State University, Professor Yohana Daniel Izam led the management of the institution on a condolence visit to his palace to condole him over the death of his daughter.

He said in the past the herdsmen used to graze within the University but this has stopped because of the on-going discussions between the Traditional Council and the leaders of the Herdsmen on the need to co-exist peacefully with one another by avoiding actions that could result in conflicts.

According to him, “As you have said earlier that in addition to the Plateau state indigenes, there are other students from other states that are studying in the University and we must do everything possible to safeguard their lives and the University by providing a conducive atmosphere teaching and learning to thrive”

He further used the occasion to assure the Vice Chancellor that the problems being encountered with the host community will soon be a thing of the past as the Traditional Council will intervene in the matter with the view to finding lasting solution to the problem and expressed optimism that the hospital that was to be built on the disputed land could even be a teaching hospital that will cater for the health needs of the students, staff and the host community.

Also during the visit a prepared speech of the Saf Butura DR John Gabriel Mallo Makwal was read by the Chairman of Butura Community Development Association and former Vice Chancellor of University of Jos, Professor Heyward Babale Mafuyai who appealed to the University to consider youths and sons and daughters of the host communities in admission into the various degree programmes of the University as well employment.

The Saf Butura, believed that doing so will go a long way in reducing crime and hostility among youths and other vices currently bedeviling the area.
He further suggested that the University should establish a skill acquisition and Agricultural extension scheme and ventures in and around the University to provide an opportunity for the teeming youths to acquire skills that would enable them to be self reliant and self employed.

Speaking earlier, Professor Izam condoled the Traditional Ruler and the entire Butura nation over the demise of his daughter and pray God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
The Vice Chancellor used the occasion to solicit for the support and corporation of the Butura Traditional Council and the community to enable him achieve his vision of deepening the culture of academic excellence through robust training and retraining of staff to impart knowledge on the students of the University who are the future leaders of the state and the country.

Professor Izam recalled how the Saf Butura promptly intervened in the security situation around the campus when he called him to help appeal to the relevant authorities to beef up security in the area while the University also facilitated the deployment of armed security operatives around the campus which has improved security in the area.

He further disclosed that Governor Simon Bako Lalong has graciously agreed to assist the University with funds for the fencing of the University to address the problem of land encroachment.

The Vice Chancellor however, expressed displeasure over some factors that hindered the commencement the of the Lalong hospital legacy project in the area which said will facilitate the commencement of Faculty of Health Sciences.

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Host Community Rulers & Herdsmen to Sign Peace Pact to end Grazing in PLASU