The Agwatyap III, Dominic Gambo Yahaya, has said the Atyap, Fulani and Hausa have coexisted peacefully in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State for long which earlier paved way for trust among the groups.
Speaking during a peace and reconciliation meeting organised by the Atyap Traditional Council on Saturday with the theme: “Exploring Ways and Means of Achieving and Sustaining Lasting Peaceful Coexistence in the Chiefdom”, the traditional ruler wondered why the age-long trust was eroded, resulting in incessant crises in the kingdom; with devastating consequences.
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He called on participants at the meeting to objectively discuss and suggest measures towards ending the lingering crises.
He pointed out that ethnic profiling of the criminal elements that were bent on disrupting the peace in the area had further exacerbated tension and mutual distrust among various groups.
The Agwatyap said, “It must also be noted that where the profiling of criminals is done along ethno-religious sentiments, there is always an increase in mistrust in the communities; and this heightens tension,” he adds that the only way out of the situation was dialogue.
The Agwatyap, who appreciated the Federal Government for deploying special forces in Southern Kaduna, called on the people of the area to join hands with the government in order to change the bitter story of constant breach of peace.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Francis Mutuwa, noted that it would take the support and cooperation of all parties for peace to be restored to the area.
Mr. Mutuwa tasked all the participants, to be frank in their submissions and to avoid the blame game.
He thanked the security operatives deployed to the area for the role they had so far played to restore peace in communities and urged them to sustain the tempo.
The Co-chairman of the occasion, Dr. Salihu Musa Umar, who is the Chairman and CEO of Farmers and Herders Initiative for Peace and Development, underscored the importance of tolerance from all affected parties and cautioned community leaders from giving wrong narratives each time attacks occurred.
The Commandant of Operation Safe Haven, Major General Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, urged the people of the area to look for ways of achieving lasting peace among themselves; saying there was no conflict that could not be resolved.
Speaking on behalf of the Fulani, the state Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Haruna Usman Tugga, emphasised the need for sincerity in resolving the crises; which according to him, was always politicised.
