In order to calm frayed nerves and bring to an end the recurring crises in Plateau State, the President of the  Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria and the Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama,  has organised a peace parley between the Fulani and Irigwe communities in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Kaigama took advantage of the 25th Anniversary of St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church, Bassa, where he summoned leaders of communities in Bassa and their Fulani counterparts, where he preached to them the essence of peace and peaceful coexistence.

Speaking during his homily, the archbishop told them that nothing is achieved by violence,  stressing that communities and society develop only when they agree to cohabit in peace and harmony.

He admonished them to let go of the bitterness that would have led to the crisis that engulfed Miango in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, where over 62 persons lost their lives in the series of attack in the last three weeks.

He appealed to the affected communities and the church to use the word of God as the only weapon of war in combating challenges rather than allowing themselves to be used by devilish people to kill and destroy one another.

The archbishop expressed dismay at the situation where for people to get promotion in their place of work, they would be coaxed into renouncing their religion and change to another.

“When you kill and shout the name of God you are offending God because that is not what God commission you to do”, Kaigama said.

 Secretary General, Gan Allah Fulani Developement Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN), Alhaji Saleh Bayeri, who spoke on behalf of Fulani community, lauded the Bishop for calling all aggrieved parties to bury their hate and embrace peace.

Bayeri said the Fulani and the natives have lived together for long, calling on mischief makers to desist from beating the drum of war.

He admonished the people not to fight in the name of God because only religion worship and profess one God.

Our correspondent gathered that the Irigwe communities, who are still smarting from their loss during the crises boycotted the peace parley.