TOTO TOWN HALL MEETING: A CALL FOR SUSTAINED PEACE AND UNITY

BY BY MATTHEW TUKURA

Peace is gradually returning to Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, thanks to the efforts of Governor Alhaji Abdullahi Sule and the Local Government Chairman, Pharmacist Ahmed Baba Yahaya. This was the central message at a town hall meeting held on Monday, 29th December 2025, at the Abdullahi Adamu Youth Centre in Toto.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Yahaya highlighted the peace-building achievements in the area, attributing the progress to the support of Governor Sule. He noted that since the return of the Bassa people to Toto on February 10, 2025, consistent efforts have been made to foster tolerance and integration. The Chairman called for maximum public support for both the state administration and the local council to sustain the relative peace.

Barrister Muhammad D. Zubairu, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Peace and Conflict Resolution, chaired the meeting and delivered an extensive address titled, “Building Confidence in Peace Building Processes: Challenges and Opportunities.” He, alongside other resource persons, reflected on the historical mutual relationships shared by the forefathers of the land, which transcended tribal and religious boundaries.

Emphasizing Toto’s abundant natural and human resources, Barrister Zubairu stated that proper harnessing of these assets would transform the local government. He recalled a time when civil servants sought postings to Toto for its peaceful atmosphere and agricultural bounty, earning it the nickname “Samunaka.” He called for collective effort to restore Toto to its former glory and make it a model for other areas in the state.

Contributing to the discussion, former Toto Local Government Chairman Elder Honourable Tanko Kaura noted that the Bassa-Egbura crisis had displaced many from the area. He cautioned against harmful insinuations. Similarly, another former Chairman, Dr. Zakari Ogwu, warned those inciting violence to consider the consequences of their actions, noting that a day of reckoning would come.

Former Director of Personnel Management, Sheik Abdullahi Maji, offered a proverb: “When two brothers fight and kill one another, the stranger takes over their land.”

Comrade Dansabo Friday Nyinzo, Chairman of the Nasarawa State Bassa Cultural and Development Union (BCDU), called for forgiveness and tolerance. He highlighted lingering grievances, such as property disputes, and urged for their urgent resolution.

Hajiya Mairo Usman, Senior Special Adviser to the Toto Local Government Chairman, commended the meeting as one of the best since the integration process began. She praised the Local Government Council, the Governor’s SSA on Peace, the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT), and all stakeholders for bringing people together to chart a progressive path for Toto.

Egbira Youth President of Nasarawa State, Mohammed Obaraze, addressed economic unity, questioning why some engaged in commerce refuse to patronize local markets like Toto's. He urged a change in attitude, stating, “Toto is ours to be collectively developed.”

The general mood conveyed a community eager to unite for the benefit of future generations. Stakeholders applauded Governor Sule’s administration and the appointment of Barrister Zubairu, as well as the IFIT for facilitating grassroots dialogue an approach described as unprecedented. The meeting was attended by traditional rulers and village heads.

In a vote of thanks, the Ohimegye Opanda and President of the Toto Local Government Traditional Council, HRH Usman Abdullahi represented by the Village Head of Dausu thanked all attendees and urged them to maintain peace in their respective domains.

Timescope news