Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Babangida Nguroje, has urged stakeholders in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State to halt actions capable of worsening the recent unrest, warning that further violence could destroy the peace and unity built over the years.
Nguroje, who is the Garkuwan Sardauna, called on all parties to exercise restraint and allow law enforcement agencies to restore peace and order in the affected communities.
He also appealed to residents of Mbamnga, Mbara and Geroji to embrace dialogue and genuine reconciliation, saying the communities could not afford further loss of lives or destruction of property.
In a statement, Nguroje commended the Sardauna Local Government leadership for its prompt response to the crisis and urged all stakeholders to respect established procedures for resolving disagreements.
He said violence would only create deeper divisions and undermine development in the affected areas.
The former Deputy Speaker also commended traditional rulers in the communities for their longstanding efforts to maintain peace, urging them to intensify their role as custodians of tradition, culture and community values.
Nguroje stressed that the peace and unity enjoyed in Sardauna and Taraba State must not be sacrificed over disagreements that could be resolved through dialogue.
He said the loss of lives and destruction of property would only take the communities backwards, urging residents to reject actions capable of escalating the situation.
Nguroje particularly commended Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, for what he described as his efforts to maintain and sustain peace across the state.
He said Taraba’s reputation for peaceful coexistence must be protected, adding that stakeholders had a responsibility to prevent the Sardauna unrest from degenerating into a wider crisis.
Nguroje expressed sadness that the disagreements had escalated instead of being resolved through dialogue and urged all parties to return to peaceful engagement.
He condoled with families who lost loved ones in the unrest and called on government authorities, traditional rulers, community leaders and residents to work together towards an enduring peace.
He maintained that genuine reconciliation remained essential to restoring normalcy and securing the future development of Sardauna Local Government.