Criminals have no tribe, Shettima urges Plateau youth to reject hatred
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
News
Named sources
Context piece
- Vice President Kashim Shettima urged Plateau State residents to reject ethnic profiling and inherited bitterness, stating that criminals do not represent any community.
- He advised the younger generation to break cycles of revenge and embrace peace, noting that many young people carry grievances from conflicts they did not start.
- Shettima cautioned against blaming entire groups for the actions of criminals, emphasizing that such blame deepens divisions and benefits those who profit from violence.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on the people of Plateau State to reject ethnic profiling and inherited bitterness, asserting that those perpetrating violent attacks do not represent any specific community, religion, or ethnicity. Speaking at the 80th birthday celebration of former Plateau State Governor Senator Jonah Jang, Shettima urged the younger generation to break the cycle of revenge and embrace peace and reconciliation.
Criminals have no tribe or religion, and I urge the younger generation to reject inherited hatred and embrace peace and reconciliation.
"Criminals have no tribe or religion, and I urge the younger generation to reject inherited hatred and embrace peace and reconciliation," Shettima stated. He expressed concern that many young people in the state are burdened by conflicts they did not initiate, carrying grievances from past generations. The Vice President appealed to elders to guide the youth toward forgiveness, quoting Mahatma Gandhi: "The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."
The young men and women of Plateau have inherited baggage they did not create. They carry the grievances of a generation they never met and the quarrels of a history they never wrote.
Shettima cautioned against collective blame, stating, "Those carrying out these atrocities have no mandate from any community. They represent no religion, no ethnicity and no culture. When innocent people are condemned for the sins of criminals, we deepen our divisions and hand victory to those who profit from violence." He lamented the impact of years of violence on Plateau communities, noting that it has turned fertile lands into places of mourning and replaced trust with suspicion.
The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
The Vice President paid tribute to Senator Jang, urging him and other elder statesmen to continue mentoring the younger generation. He described Plateau as strategically important to Nigeria's history and security and reflected on Jang's decades of service, stating that true legacy lies in the positive difference made in people's lives, not temporary power.
Those carrying out these atrocities have no mandate from any community. They represent no religion, no ethnicity and no culture. When innocent people are condemned for the sins of criminals, we deepen our divisions and hand victory to those who profit from violence.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
More Stories
From Our Blog
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
