(L-R): Josephine Chundung Piyo, deputy governor of Plateau state; and Kayode Akintemi, MD and editor-in-chief of News Central TV
Stakeholders have called on the federal government to address the root causes of recurring violence in the middle belt region of the country and ensure justice is served without ethnic bias.
The stakeholders spoke on Thursday in Jos, Plateau state, during a town hall meeting held by News Central TV.
The event themed ‘One Middle Belt, One Voice: From Conflict to Action and Justice’ brought together community leaders, victims of conflict, security agencies and representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs).
Zacharys Gundu, president of the Tiv Professionals Group, said peaceful coexistence must remain the foundation for resolving conflicts.
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“No group has the right to claim land or livelihoods at the expense of others,” Gundu said.
Isa El-Buba, general overseer of EBOMI ministry, called for impartial justice, noting that “killers must be held accountable regardless of tribe or ethnicity”.
Manasseh Zugumtun from Mantu district and a victim of insecurity accused Fulani groups of fuelling unrest in the region.
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Zugumtun urged the government to act swiftly to prevent further bloodshed.
Kayode Akintemi, managing director of News Central, described the stories shared at the town hall meeting as heartbreaking and urged security agencies to protect lives and property across the region without discrimination.
The meeting ended with a consensus that urgent government intervention is needed to promote justice, heal divisions and strengthen unity in the middle belt.
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