Justin Tyopuusu, Jalingo
The Catholic Bishop of Jalingo Diocese, Most Rev. Charles Hammawa on Wednesday appealed to Jukun and Tiv people in Wukari local government area of the state to stop killings and destruction going on in the area.
Hammawa made the appeal during a peace meeting he convened between the Jukun and Tiv stakeholders held at the St. Charles Boromeo Pastoral Centre in Jalingo.
In a dramatic move during the meeting, the Bishop knelt down before the delegates begging them to sheath their sword and embrace peace.
“I am on my knees begging you. I beg you, I beg you, I beg you in the name of God, to stop the killings. I beg you in the name of God to sheath your sword.
“The time for peace is now, if we say till later it might be too late. I beg of you in the name of God to sheath your sword and embrace peace which is the only way of bringing peace and development in your state.
“We must develop the spirit of give and take. As a people, we cannot live in isolation. We need one another. So, let’s forgive one another, accept one another and ensure justice for all for peace and prosperity of Taraba.
“America is great today because they accepted one another and are using their
diversity to make America great. We must not give up until peace is achieve. These persistent crises in the history of Taraba has made us to retrogressed.
“We must therefore, move away from this destructive path to avert the dangerous consequences of continuous killing and destruction,” he appealed.
Hammawa who condemned the crisis called on the people to look at themselves as brothers and sisters, forgive one another for the wrongs done and immediately cease all hostilities.
Our correspondent reports that representatives at the meeting all thanked the Bishop for his timely intervention and pledged to cease hostilities in the interest of peace.
