PEACE BUREAU TAKES SENSITIZATION CAMPAIGN TO BALI, URGES COMMUNITIES TO REJECT VIOLENCE

The Taraba State Bureau for Peace and Conflict Management has intensified its statewide peace campaign with a sensitization programme in Bali Local Government Area, urging residents to shun violence and embrace dialogue as the foundation for lasting peace and development.

The campaign brought together traditional rulers, community leaders, farmers, herders, youth groups, and other stakeholders to discuss practical measures for strengthening peaceful coexistence and preventing conflicts in the area.

Addressing participants, the Chairman of the Bureau for Peace and Conflict Management, Bishop Innocent Rubiruka Solomon, condemned recurring violence and called on communities to put an end to killings and all forms of hostility.

"It is enough. Killings, violence and acrimony among communities must end," Bishop Solomon said, stressing that peace remains essential for sustainable development and economic growth.

He urged farmers and herders to promote mutual understanding, tolerance and cooperation, noting that harmonious relationships between both groups would enhance agricultural productivity and contribute to the progress of Taraba State and Nigeria.

Bishop Solomon also commended the Executive Chairman of Bali Local Government Area, Hon. Habila Balasa, for his commitment to promoting peace and strengthening security in the council. He described the council chairman as a proactive leader whose efforts have continued to support stability and peaceful coexistence across the local government.

The Bureau reiterated its commitment to expanding its peace sensitization and conflict prevention campaigns across Taraba State, encouraging residents to resolve disputes through dialogue and other peaceful means rather than violence.

TARABA'S IMPROVED SECURITY REFLECTS GOV. KEFAS' COMMITMENT TO PEACE – BISHOP SOLOMON

The Chairman of the Taraba State Bureau for Peace and Conflict Management, Bishop Innocent Rubiruka Solomon, says the relative peace currently being experienced across Taraba State is a direct result of the deliberate security and peacebuilding policies of Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas' administration.

Speaking on Haske Television's Guest of the Week programme, Bishop Solomon said the state government's sustained investment in security, dialogue, and conflict prevention has significantly reduced criminal activities while strengthening peaceful coexistence among communities.

He noted that Taraba's improving security profile is attracting national attention, pointing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's recent announcement of plans to establish a Nigerian Army Division in Taraba, alongside a few other states, as a demonstration of growing confidence in the state's security architecture and strategic importance.

According to the Bureau Chairman, the agency has intensified its peacebuilding efforts through the establishment of Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) mechanisms in communities across the state. He said the initiative is helping to detect and address potential conflicts before they escalate.

Bishop Solomon added that the Bureau has expanded stakeholder engagement and conflict prevention strategies as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections begin to gather pace. He explained that the Bureau is working closely with security agencies, traditional rulers, religious and community leaders, youth and women groups, as well as civil society organisations to promote dialogue and prevent violence.

He said the collaborative approach has strengthened intelligence gathering, improved responses to emerging security threats, and enhanced public confidence in the state's peacebuilding framework.

The Bureau Chairman also commended the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security agencies operating in Taraba State for their professionalism and dedication to safeguarding lives and property.

Reaffirming the Bureau's commitment to sustaining peace across the state, Bishop Solomon said it would continue to strengthen partnerships with relevant stakeholders to consolidate the gains already recorded and ensure peaceful elections before, during, and after the 2027 general polls.

He also urged residents to support government and security agencies by remaining law-abiding, reporting suspicious activities, and embracing dialogue in resolving disputes, stressing that lasting peace is a shared responsibility.

RELIGIOUS LEADERS CRITICAL TO PEACE, SECURITY, NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT — TSBPCM CHAIRMAN

The Chairman of the Taraba State Bureau for Peace and Conflict Management (TSBPCM), Bishop Innocent Rubiruka Solomon, has emphasised the vital role of religious leaders in promoting national development, peace and security across Nigeria.

Bishop Solomon said faith leaders remain indispensable partners in fostering unity, peaceful coexistence and strong moral values within communities. He noted that their influence is essential in preventing conflicts, encouraging dialogue and strengthening social cohesion.

According to him, lasting peace can only be achieved through the active involvement of religious leaders, whom he described as trusted voices capable of promoting tolerance, reconciliation and mutual respect among people of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds.

He called on religious leaders across Taraba State to sustain their commitment to preaching peace, love, justice and harmony, while discouraging hate speech, violence and other actions capable of undermining the state's stability.

The TSBPCM Chairman further stated that Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas' peace agenda prioritises collaboration with religious institutions as strategic partners in conflict prevention, mediation and peacebuilding across the state.

He reaffirmed the Bureau's commitment to strengthening partnerships with churches, mosques and other faith-based organisations to advance dialogue, reconciliation and community-driven peace initiatives aimed at ensuring lasting peace, security and sustainable development in Taraba State.