Plateau Peace Agency wants journalists to de-escalate farmer/herder conflict

By Kingsley Chukwuka

The Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA), has appealed to journalists to use their medium to de-escalate the tension arising from the farmer/herder conflicts.

The agency said if journalists could manage information of the prolonged conflict, the crisis will in no time reduce to a negligible situation.

This was contained in a discussion held with journalists at a One-day Consultative Meeting with Media Stakeholders in Plateau held in Jos.

With the theme: “Taking Advantage of the Convergence of News Media In Reporting The Farmers/Herder Conflict In Plateau State”, newsmen however came out with a stable idea of creating a platform where conventional mass media outlets, like the Television, the Radio and the Newspapers could publish their reports in real time and on the same platform made available by the Agency.

PPBA however responded by saying it has an early warning mitigation system where it de-escalate conflict situations to security operatives.

It also noted that some of the conflicts between farmers and herders in Plateau were mere criminality among the people.

Journalists however in suggesting more ways to end the farmer/herder conflicts advised that those whose lands were forcefully taken by suspected Fulani attackers should seek redress in court through the recently established “Anti Land Grabbing Act” in the state.

Earlier, while welcoming the participants, Media Assistant to the PPBA, Kenneth Dakop who represented the Director- General of the Agency, called on participants to put all hands on deck to ensure that the farmers/herders conflict is brought to an end.

He charged Journalists not to be emotional and sensational in any conflict report, even when they are directly affected.