Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has applauded the leadership of the Search For Common Ground (SFCG) for dedicating their time and resources to resolving conflicts between farmers and herders in Taraba State and the neighbouring Adamawa State.

Speaking at a one-day experience-sharing event organised for media practitioners in Adamawa and Taraba by SFCG, the governor commended the organisation’s commitment to fostering peace and addressing the longstanding tensions between the two groups.

Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Jeji Williams, he stressed the importance of collaboration in promoting stability and unity in the region.

He urged journalists to collaborate with the organisation and state governments in promoting peace, rather than using their platforms to inflame conflicts.

“The media must be at the forefront of promoting peace. The need for responsible reporting can no longer be overemphasised,” the governor stated.

Commending the European Union for funding the project, he called on journalists to support the policies of the two state governments and uphold the ethics of the profession by ensuring objectivity in their reporting.

Also speaking, the Project Manager, Gambo Wada, revealed that COMMITAS is a project implemented by Search for Common Ground (SFCG) in both states, with plans to expand to other communities.

Wada noted that the project, supported by SFCG, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Mercy Corps, aims to mitigate conflicts over natural resources, particularly between farmers and herders.

While stressing the critical role journalists play in information sharing, raising awareness, and promoting social cohesion, Wada and other members of the organisation echoed the call for media to avoid reports that could truncate the peace already achieved between farmers and herders in the two states.

Describing the experience-sharing as an eye-opener, participants drawn from media organisations spread across the two states reiterated their commitment to engaging in reports that will promote the peaceful coexistence of communities domiciled in the aforementioned states and the country at large.

The event, as observed by our state correspondent, provided a platform for media professionals to exchange insights on the challenges and progress made in conflict resolution efforts in Adamawa and Taraba.