Governor Lalong apologizes over violent conflicts

The Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong on Friday said justice, fairness and equity will hasten “healing” in the State following recent violent conflicts.

Government, Lalong said wants citizens to forgive the crimes and reconcile.

However, “This is not to suggest that people should pretend that bad things did not happen, or that people are still not living with the scars and losses that were recorded in the crises that engulfed our beloved State some years back,” Lalong said at the Plateau State Forgiveness and Reconciliation Day ceremony in Jos.

The Governor apologized for the “huge and unquantifiable” losses.

He said, “I stand before you by the grace of God as the Governor and Chief Executive of Plateau State to on behalf of all the good people of our dear State, ask for forgiveness from everyone who has suffered one loss or the other.”

Government according to him has over the past four years, pursued policies that promote public peace and harmony.

“This has made many people who initially ran away because of crises to return, while new people (both foreigners and Nigerians) are coming in almost every day to make a living and settle in this serene, temperate and well-endowed State,” he said.

However, the State is still faced with some security challenges “due to the activities of criminals,” he said.

He pleaded for support for security forces to “fish out those criminals” to be tried.