Together, let’s make Plateau peaceful again -By Sanni Inuwa Baba

When we were growing up in the 80's and early 90's, the name of Plateau State alone was attractive. Tourists from far and near had no better place than Plateau. Combined with the amazing weather, the people were very accommodating and seemed to be more exposed than many from other places. There was a religious tolerance and parents thought their children on being respectful.

The story has completely changed today. Most parents don't want to hear the negative actions of their children and others avoid the responsibility of parenting.  And for the religious leaders, "we have a major problem these days in our country where it seems anyone can become a religious leader overnight without any credentials. There are too many ignorant "pastors" and "imams" preaching errors and leading people astray" said the Archbishop of Abuja,  Cardinal John Onaiyekan.

In trying to promote for peace in Plateau State, my recent article which was titles "Lalong's social inclusion Model: A sure cure for Nigeria's  prevailing unrest", I explained the importance for unity and the effort the state government had done in terms of uniting its citizens.

Past months in Jos had been a a trying time as well with the re-emergence of the thugs on the street by the name of "Sara-Suka" thugs. These young men after taking hard drugs, walk majestically on the streets with harmful objects and attack any person including women and children they find on their way. An operation they named "Shara" (To sweep). These actions are not particular to Plateau but some neighboring states as well.

In trying to curb this menace, the state government issued a statement warning anyone seen with a harmful object would be dealt with immediately. The thugs drastically disappeared as the military and other security agencies were seen all over the city making some arrests.

Just when we thought normalcy was returning back to the once most peaceful city, comes the unfortunate bloodshed of last weekend. Many innocent souls were lost either on the beds massacred with their loving families or on the road burned in their cars. An incidence we always prayed not to even happen to our worst enemies. Such barbaric action should be seriously condemned by any Peace loving Nigerian.

There's hardly a political action that has effect on the Nation without the mention of Plateau. The state produced some of the best entertainers as well as footballers, wether indigenes or not. For decades, people from distance found a home on the Plateau.

In as much as it's the government's full responsibility to protect our lives and properties, we equally must come together and shame the devils who masquerade amongst us. We must fish them out and flush them. This is not a time for blame games. In such crisis, we can't afford anything but to seek for lasting solutions. We can't use this unfortunate incidence to be more divided.

Sending and posting all the videos of the killings isn't necessary. There's no need forcing ourselves to justify who was right and who was wrong. Taking another person's life for whatsoever reason is inhuman.  With such actions, we might unknowingly be encouraging more disasters to our lands.

We, the people on the Plateau must go back to our old ways of tolerating each other and accepting our differences. We should continue to be the role models we once were, the Peace setters.