CONCERNED over the recent threats to bomb some 21 designated areas in Jos, the Plateau State capital, by unknown hoodlums before December 26, religious leaders voluntarily went on air yesterday to appeal to people of the state to demonstrate love to one another irrespective of their religious differences.The Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Reverend Ignatius Kaigama and the Chief Imam of Jos Central Mosque, Sheikh Balarabe Dawood, gave the advice in a Peace Advocacy and Democracy Today Programme organized by the Plateau Radio Television Corporation (PRTV).The clerics said that they were worried by the dangerous pamphlets that were being circulated within the metropolis of impending threats of bombing some targeted places.Kaigama pointed out that such messages were meant to scare people away from the state, stating that both Muslims and Christians should live together peacefully as both religions uphold the sanctity of human life. He also said the media should not just cast headlines to attract patronage but to dwell on issues that will promote unity and peaceful co-existence rather than issues that will divide people.The cleric said violence must stop because there is time for everything, stressing that 'this is the time for peace'. He said government has its political role, the security agencies have their own role to play to ensure peace while religious leaders also have their role to ensure peace in their domains.Sheik Dawood who spoke next, said the documents in circulation alleging plans by Muslims to bomb some places at Christmas are all part of plans by merchants of violence to further polarize Muslims and Christians in the state.He stressed that he would want to see Muslims and Christians celebrate Christmas together, adding that people should not submit themselves to divisible tendencies. He also cautioned politicians not to hide under the banner of religion to cause disharmony among the people.Meanwhile, the Plateau State Police Command has banned the riding of motorcycles within the metropolis from 6am today to 6pm on Monday, December 26.According to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Dipo Ayeni, the measure is to ensure peaceful celebration of Christmas and New Year. He warned that anybody who flouts the directive will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.Ayeni added that the police command and other security agencies are fully committed to the provision of comprehensive security of lives and property to ensure violence-free celebration of Christmas before, during and after.During a parley with security agencies, religious leaders and other stakeholders, former Economic Community of West African Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Field Commander, Lt. Gen. Joshua Dogonyaro (rtd), tasked security agencies responsible for maintaining peace in Jos to be more pro-active in their method of intelligence gathering.Dogonyaro lamented that enough resources have been sunk by governments at all levels to curb the security challenges. He said physical aspects of security should be the subject of discussion not merely mooting the ideas without the practice.'What the people of the state want from the security agents are practical security strategies since those who are causing problems are not spirits but people who are living with other people in the society. So, with intelligence gathering, it will be easy to get them without mush stress,' he said.
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