President Bola Tinubu has deployed his peace envoy, Dr. Abiodun Essiet, to Plateau State as part of renewed efforts to restore stability and strengthen inter-communal harmony across the region.
Essiet, who serves as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), embarked on a two-day peace mission last Thursday. During the visit, she held separate meetings with Christian leaders, Fulani Miyetti Allah representatives, and later convened a broad-based town hall meeting in Jos.
The forum brought together delegates from several local government areas, traditional rulers, women groups and youth leaders, focusing on rebuilding community peace structures and promoting lasting coexistence.
In Barkin Ladi, Essiet met with Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, Chairman of the Regional Church Council (RCC), where discussions emphasised the role of faith-based leadership in fostering unity and social development. She also interacted with widows, delivering President Tinubu’s message of reconciliation.
Recognised as a major voice within the Christian community, Dachomo engaged Essiet in talks centred on deepening trust among diverse groups. The envoy also met with Fulani leaders to enhance dialogue between pastoralist and farming communities, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive engagement. She further conducted a workshop targeting peacebuilding structures across the 17 LGAs of the state.
While in Jos, Essiet held separate engagements with the Irigwe community, Miyetti Allah, and the Bassa Local Government Youth Council. The discussions focused on sustaining dialogue through an existing 17-member joint peace committee dedicated to reconciliation efforts.
Essiet reiterated President Tinubu’s pledge to advance peace and inclusive governance, noting that community-driven mechanisms remain key to long-term stability in the North Central zone.
A notable breakthrough from the mission was the resolution of a long-standing conflict between Agha Farm owner, David Toma, and a group of herdsmen in Gyel District, Jos South. After Toma seized two cows for destroying his crops, MACBAN Chairman in Bassa LGA, Isah Yau, paid N500,000 compensation on November 15, leading to the release of the animals. All parties signed an agreement committing to peace.
Meanwhile, in a major security development, the Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a suspected arms dealer believed to be supplying weapons used in deadly attacks across Plateau and other parts of Northern Nigeria.
According to a statement released yesterday, the suspect, Musa Abubakar, was arrested on November 12 following intelligence that led agents to an arms-production workshop in the Mista Ali area of Bassa Local Council.
During the raid, DSS operatives recovered components of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), chemicals, and equipment suspected to be used in manufacturing high-calibre weapons.
“The suspect confessed to manufacturing and distributing arms and ammunition to groups involved in violent attacks within Plateau and neighbouring states,” the DSS said.
The agency described the arrest as a major breakthrough, disrupting a key supply chain feeding armed groups behind recurrent violence in the region.
This development comes shortly after the DSS re-arrested Abdulazeez Obadaki, also known as Bomboy, a Kuje prison escapee linked to the Owo and Deeper Life Church attacks.
It also follows the recent arrests of nine additional suspects, including 46-year-old Timna Manjol, as security agencies intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks across the North. Investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are anticipated as the crackdown expands.
