Stakeholders in Plateau State have met to proffer solutions to the crises in the region.

At a town hall meeting convened by News Central, at Crispan Hotel, Jos, victims, leaders, security representatives, and civil society were brought together to advise on the way forward.

The meeting enabled victims of the insurgency to share of their losses, displacements, and survival.

A resident, Garba Maikyau, spoke of communities under siege. “Our people have been in captivity for over a month,” he said.

Another participant, Bulus Makadas, highlighted the trauma faced by women, noting that some were attacked as expectant mothers and abandoned by their families.

David Mutem, said over 20 people, including his wife, were killed, and that he was unable to bury her due to threats. “I am over 100 years old. I have nowhere to go,” he lamented.

A lecturer at Plateau State Polytechnic, Luka Panpe, described the situation as politicised, saying any government that fails to protect life and property has failed.

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A survivor advocate, Doris Magaji, raised concerns about persistent institutional denial in addressing the crisis.

A don, Prof. Funmi Para-Mallam, noted that the Plateau crisis is long-standing, rooted in complex historical realities, and sustained by a pattern of poor governance.

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and socio-cultural groups further underscored the challenges of giving aid and support to affected communities

while a top military brass, Brig.-Gen Muhammed Sule, offered insight into the operational realities and constraints faced in responding to the crisis.

The converners said the meeting formed part of their commitment to developmental journalism, amplifying voices from conflict-affected regions while driving conversations around accountability and solutions.

The speakers agreed that understanding the persistence of violence is the first step toward ending it. (The Nation)