At last, Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong, along with some of his top officials, were in Miango, Bassa Local Government Area yesterday, to meet with the stakeholders over the recurring attacks in the area.
At the meeting attended by the Paramount ruler of Irigwe nation, Bra Ngwe Rigwe Rev. Ronku Aka, community, youth and women representatives as well as political and religious leaders, Governor Lalong said his mission was to condole with the people over the incessant killings and destruction of properties in the area which are a major setback to the progress of the entire state.
He commended the Irigwe people for their resilience, patience and efforts to live in peace with their neighbours despite the losses they have incurred over time from attacks by criminal elements.
The governor praised them for their positive attitude toward peacebuilding which led them to sign a peace pact with the Fulani with whom they have lived together peacefully for a long time until criminal elements came in to fan embers of hate, destruction and crises.
He said the Irigwe made the right decision to work together with the Fulani they know and have dwelt together peacefully over many years in order to isolate criminals who come in and try to exploit fault lines and cause chaos. This he said will assist both sides to identify criminal elements who use ethnicity, religion and other excuses as a cover to perpetrate while leaving many innocent people in pain and agony.
He urged them to resist the incitement and provocation by criminal elements both external and internal who seek to stop the development of the area and the prosperity of the State, assuring them that Government will follow them and ensure that they are dealt with ruthlessly.