The Dr. Isa El-Buba Foundation has called for stronger interfaith collaboration, social inclusion and sustained dialogue to address conflicts and promote peaceful coexistence in Plateau State.
The call was made on Thursday, October 22, 2026, during the Foundation’s Inter-Faith Leadership Summit held at its hall on Kashim Ibrahim Street, Jos, under the theme, “The Role of Faith in Conflict Transformation and Social Inclusion.”
The summit brought together Christian and Muslim leaders, adherents of African Traditional Religion and other faith traditions, traditional rulers, government representatives, security agencies, persons with disabilities, peacebuilding practitioners, civil society organisations and community stakeholders to discuss strategies for preventing conflict and rebuilding trust among communities.
In his welcome address, the Foundation’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Mica Yakubu, described the summit as an opportunity to strengthen relationships, encourage mutual understanding and develop practical approaches to addressing challenges affecting communities.
He emphasised that religious institutions and leaders have a significant role in inspiring compassion, promoting reconciliation and strengthening social cohesion, while stressing the need for responsible leadership and collaboration across religious and cultural boundaries.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Director-General of the Plateau State Peace Building Agency, Dr. Julie Sanda, the agency’s Director of Programmes, Nantip Joseph Laktam, said faith must translate into ethical leadership, public accountability, social inclusion and peaceful conduct to contribute meaningfully to national transformation.
He noted that although religion could inspire forgiveness and solidarity, it could also deepen divisions when manipulated for political, economic or personal interests.
Laktam cautioned against attributing every conflict in Plateau State solely to religious differences, explaining that disputes over land, political representation, perceived exclusion and other grievances could acquire religious or ethnic dimensions when exploited to fuel fear and retaliation.
He urged religious leaders to reject incitement, misinformation and collective blame, particularly as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections. He also advocated stronger community-based early-warning mechanisms, youth participation in peacebuilding, protection of religious freedom and impartial accountability for acts of violence.
In his goodwill message, the President of the Plateau Peace Practitioners Network, Nanmak Bali, described the summit as timely, given the approaching elections, and urged young people to avoid using social media to spread inflammatory messages or attack other religious groups.
Bali stressed that conversations on peaceful coexistence should extend beyond conference halls into communities and everyday interactions, adding that understanding and respecting other people’s beliefs were essential to building lasting peace.
Similarly, the Executive Director of the Centre for Community Action for Peace and Development (CAPAD), Dr. Ahmed Salihu, commended the organisers for bringing together stakeholders to discuss peace and security challenges. He expressed concern over the manipulation of young people by political actors and called for sustained efforts to counter radicalisation and prevent youths from being recruited into violence.
The Plateau State Police Command Chaplain, James B. Haruna, reflected on earlier periods when people of different religious backgrounds lived and interacted more freely. He called for a return to the spirit of brotherhood and mutual support, stressing that religious differences should not destroy longstanding family and community relationships.
Pastor Jonah Kanda of Ebomi Ministries also urged religious leaders to use their influence to promote mutual respect and strengthen cooperation beyond formal gatherings.
A panel discussion examining progress made over the past 25 years and whether communities could rebuild while victims continued to experience trauma featured personal accounts of loss, displacement, damaged livelihoods and broken relationships arising from previous crises.
Participants recounted attacks on homes and businesses, the loss of livelihoods and the persistent fear experienced by families whenever fresh tensions emerge. Despite these experiences, they maintained that rebuilding was possible through sustained dialogue, forgiveness, justice, trauma recovery and deliberate efforts to restore relationships across religious and ethnic lines.
One participant, Pastor Afiniki John Emmanuel, shared how violence had affected her family relationships and created fear towards people of another faith. She explained that continued engagement and peacebuilding interactions had gradually helped her reconsider those fears and begin the process of healing.
The discussions highlighted the importance of acknowledging victims’ experiences, addressing grievances and ensuring that reconciliation efforts are accompanied by justice and practical support for affected communities.
Participants also called for stronger government involvement in peacebuilding initiatives, sustained partnerships among religious institutions and civil society organisations, and greater inclusion of young people, women, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in decision-making.
The summit ended with a call for stakeholders to translate discussions into practical community-level initiatives that promote peaceful coexistence, prevent violence and strengthen trust among residents.
Participants emphasised that lasting peace in Plateau State would require collective responsibility, mutual respect, accountability and a shared commitment to protecting the dignity and rights of every citizen, regardless of religious or ethnic identity.
