Member of the Plateau State Fact-Finding Committee and National President of the University of Jos Alumni Association, Dr. Gad Peter Shamaki, has emphasized the need for youth to be fully involved in conversations and initiatives aimed at resolving the recurring violence in Plateau State and other parts of the country.
In an interview granted on Thursday, June 26, 2025, Dr. Shamaki described the youth as both the primary victims and active participants in the ongoing conflict, making their inclusion in peacebuilding efforts not just necessary, but urgent.
“Eighty to ninety percent of those involved in the fighting are young people. They are the ones being killed, the ones whose futures are being destroyed—no education, no businesses, no farming, no interaction across divides,” he said.
He warned that continued exclusion of young people from meaningful dialogue and economic opportunity will only deepen the crisis. According to him, the unrest has created both social disconnection and economic loss among youth, who are now unable to freely associate or do business beyond ethnic or religious lines.
While acknowledging calls for government empowerment schemes, Dr. Shamaki said the real issue is not the absence of opportunities but the collapse of the system due to insecurity.
“If there is no peace, empowerment and skill training won’t work. First, youth must stay alive, stay educated, and remain focused on using their knowledge to better society. Then government can support with ventures and funding,” he explained.
Dr. Shamaki also praised Governor Caleb Mutfwang for setting up what he described as a truly intentional committee. He revealed that out of ten members, only one is a Plateau indigene—a move that reflects the governor’s readiness to find an unbiased, lasting solution.
“This is not like other committees. We are visiting real communities, seeing mass graves, speaking to victims and even alleged perpetrators. That alone shows seriousness,” he said.
Highlighting the significant number of youths in Governor Mutfwang’s administration, Dr. Shamaki urged young people to take responsibility and support the government’s peacebuilding efforts.
“Many commissioners, LG officials, even leaders in chiefdoms today are young. We must rise up and help this system work, not destroy it.”
He concluded by saying that the committee’s final recommendations would be a collective responsibility—not just for the state government, but for stakeholders at all levels, including the federal government.
