Senator Gyang Pwajok, yesterday, in Jos called for trauma management centres to assist victims of the protracted violence in Plateau North. Pwajok, who represents Plateau North, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the war-weary victims needed more attention and should not just be abandoned to their fates. “It is a huge regret that the victims of the violence are usually left alone to suffer; there has to be a very systematic way of addressing the concerns of these traumatised families and communities. “There is the need for trauma and counselling centres, especially since many survivors witnessed the gruesome killing of their loved ones; we also need to strengthen the compensation processes. “It is not enough to just throw some funds once in a while, or drop wrappers or mattresses to the victims of the conflicts.

Senator Gyang Pwajok, yesterday, in Jos called for trauma management centres to assist victims of the protracted violence in Plateau North. Pwajok, who represents Plateau North, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the war-weary victims needed more attention and should not just be abandoned to their fates. “It is a huge regret that the victims of the violence are usually left alone to suffer; there has to be a very systematic way of addressing the concerns of these traumatised families and communities. “There is the need for trauma and counselling centres, especially since many survivors witnessed the gruesome killing of their loved ones; we also need to strengthen the compensation processes. “It is not enough to just throw some funds once in a while, or drop wrappers or mattresses to the victims of the conflicts.

“On most routes in Plateau North, you see destroyed villages, collapsed religious structures, as well as abandoned farms and villages. There are also displaced persons that keep wandering. We must seek ways to cater for them and reintegrate them into the society. “Governments at all levels spend billions on roads. We should spend some of these billions on the reconstruction of destroyed communities so as to minimise the sad visible reminders of the ugly past. “In doing that, Nigeria will only be emulating what was done at the larger world level when deliberate massive constructions marked the post-world war era,” he said. Pwajok said that security had been of utmost concern to him as a representative of a crisis-ridden senatorial district, and expressed happiness that his parleys with the warring parties had ensured the gradual return of peace.

The senator said that he would continue to carry out sustained advocacy toward stability, and disclosed that he was partnering with security agencies “in a solution-driven manner rather than hurling accusations and blames”. He cautioned stakeholders in the Plateau peace process against losing momentum, pointing out that the gains could be lost if they took things for granted and lose concentration. Pwajok called on his constituents to jealously guard the peace they currently enjoy, noting that “crisis entrepreneurs” were always at work to create confusion so as to gain from it. He called for more avenues for interactions that would minimize areas of distrust, mutual fears and suspicion, stressing that communing together would re-establish and strengthen the bonds that held the people together.

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Senator GNS Pwajok -Trauma Management Centres need to be set up in Plateau