It was a moment of silence and regret over the loss witnessed as CFM’s team drove pass Miango settlements affected by crisis or arm banditry to a peace conference organize by Avant Garde, an arm of Christian Faith Ministries for peaceful coexistence/living between Christian and Muslim communities in northern part of Nigeria. Deserted houses most especially by the road side were characterized by either ashes or holes from bullets used by the arm bandits that ransacked or invaded Miango community in Jos North of Plateau State. It was a pity to imagine peasant farmers with their innocent children who were surviving on farming activities now reduced to poverty specimens.
Miango community is about 20 kilometers away from the Jos
town and the people are mostly farmers. The community habitants are from
different ethnic and religious backgrounds. They have lived together in peace
and harmony for more than two hundred years without any record of
farmers-herders clash or any banditry attack until few years back when
farmers-herders clash became common with the increase of Insurgence activities
in northern part of Nigeria.
The peace conference which was held on 11th of September,
2021 within the distressed Miango community was another historic peace
conference. The meeting which most residence described it as first of its kind
has brought light which the community needed at that moment. The meeting
featured different personality cut across differential religious leaders within
the community, representative from various youth groups both from Christian and
Muslims, security personnel from the Nigerian Police and the Military.
After various talks from different representatives which
include Professor Kent Hodge, Plateau State government representative on peace
matters, religious leaders, security personnel, youth leaders and so on, it
became clear that such gathering or conference was expected long ago before the
convergence date. Everyone wished and prayed the peace and unity emanated from
the peace conference endured to eternity. The Peaceful atmosphere was so
obvious, religious or ethnic divides were not seen or felt after the meeting,
Christian youths were seen taking a photograph with Muslim youths. The sitting
arrangement during the lunch which was served after the meeting spoke more of a
community that has been healed from ethnic and religious divides.
Indeed, understanding brings light and light brings peace.
The enlightenment received from the peace conference glowed in the faces of
people who had little or no knowledge of what it takes to remain united in face
of misunderstanding. There will always be misunderstanding, but it takes wisdom
and understanding to remain resolute to peaceful coexistence and this was what
this meeting made possible.
Everyone who has ever witnessed crisis will never wish to
witness it for the second time. There has never been gain or progress with a
society that has always been in crisis like communities in Plateau State and
other parts of the world. There is no doubt that crisis leaves the community
affected in untold hardships. Apart from losing their lands and houses which
took many years to build, families are exposed to poverty, shortage of food and
emotional trauma that can degenerate into further decay of any society.
There is no doubt that this community needs help from
caring hearts to repair or rebuild their houses. Some of these people lost
everything as a result of fire ignited by bullets from arm bandits. Christian
Faith Ministries even before now, in her little capacity has been reaching out
to the vulnerable in the community. This is the community where one of Kent
computer centers is situated. A computer center that has brought Christian and Muslim youths
together before the major attack which occurred recently. More has to be
done most especially to those who don’t have neither bed nor a blanket to use
during the night.
Please pray for Christian Faith Ministries as she plans to
reach out to more people affected by the crisis.
Below are some images from Miango Peace conference.
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