The Catholic Bishop of Jalingo Diocese, Charles Hammawa on Thursday appealed to Jukun and Tiv people in Wukari local government area of the state to stop the 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 giving 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 achieved. These persistent crises in the history of Taraba have made us retrogress.
“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.
The representatives at the meeting all thanked the Bishop for his timely intervention and pledged to cease hostilities in the interest of peace.
