MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENCY AND TRADITIONAL RULERS ON THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE FULANI AND JUKUN-KONA

The Emir of Muri, HRH Abbas Tafida, the Chief (KURU) of Kona, HRH Augustine Njenmang Vengkani, the Taraba State Governor, His Excellency, D.D.Ishaku, and I met in the Presidency, Abuja, on the 2nd of September, 2019, to deliberate on the conflict between the Fulani and the Jukun-Kona in the Jalingo and Ardo Kola Local Government Areas of Taraba State.

To God’s glory, the meeting was acknowledged by both parties to be fruitful. I deeply appreciate the kindness of the Vice President in granting my request for such a dialogue aimed at permanent reconciliation and peace. We pray that the conflict rooted in unfortunate historical factors which go back over one century will be brought to an end with very sincere dialogue and mutual respect between the Fulani and the Jukun-Kona. I pray that the Committee that His Excellency, Gov. DARIUS ISHAKU has promised to set up will go a long way in healing wounds caused by the conflict and enable the people with the help of the Federal Government to return to their homes from where they were displaced and to be assisted to resume working for their means of livelihood through the necessary effective and permanent security presence.

We earnestly call on all parties to beat their swords, guns, bows and arrows into plowshares, and their spears into sickles and not to lift up sword against one another, neither to continue to train for battle… (cf. Isaiah 2:4).

May God grant us permanent peace (“salama”, “atau”).