The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has convened a pool meeting to address the various degrees of violence and criminalities threatening the peace in the North Central zone.
The one day workshop tagged: “North Central Public Awareness Programme, Building a People of Peace” was held in Makurdi, and aimed at entrenching peace for development and progress in the region.
The meeting discussed the burning security issues ranging from herders/farmers clashes, communal clashes, border clashes, armed robbery/banditry, kidnappings, cultism, domestic violence among other social vices.
The Director General of National Orientation Agency, Garba Abali, represented by Mr. Bulus Dabit, said the workshop was organized to increase awareness of critical stakeholders on the need for a peaceful and harmonious coexistence of all people regardless of their ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, culture or class.
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The State Coordinator of NOA, Mr. Richard Audi said everyone must seek peace at all times bearing in mind that “we are created to complement each other. Our diversity should not be seen as a basis for division but the true essence for unity and Progress.
“We must be concerned about nonviolence affirmation of the sacredness of all human life while seeking peace, as true peace is not merely the absence of tension, but the presence of justice in our dealings with people from all walks of life”.
Meanwhile some stakeholders who spoke to our Correspondent said the meeting was long overdue adding that peace was imperative to any society if there must be development.
They also emphasised that the role of religious and traditional leaders for peaceful and harmonious coexistence was enormous alongside NOA and other stakeholders and urged all to rise up to their responsibilities.