By Polycarp Auta
The Plateau Association in the United States of America (PSA-USA) on Sunday organised a psychosocial and trauma healing session for victims and survivors of recent Plateau attacks.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that gunmen, on March 29, attacked the Angwan Rukuba Community of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau.
The gunmen killed some persons and injured many others.
Speaking, Dr Barth Shepkong, the President of PSA-USA, said that the event was organised in collaboration with the Saphira Global Centre for Social Development.
He said the gesture aimed at providing a safe space for the victims to ventilate their innermost feelings.
He further said that victims of attacks were often left with trauma, hence the need for psychosocial support to enable them put the past behind them and move on.
“One of the things that we have noticed as an association, especially when there’s a crisis on the Plateau, is that the aspect of the psychosocial or the emotional and psychological support is usually neglected.
“So, that is why we are here today to make sure that the victims of Angwan Rukuba get a platform to speak out.
“We are here to encourage them and at the same time give them a platform to let everything out, because they carry a lot of emotions.
“So basically, it’s a safe space for them, particularly for the women and children that are affected to learn more how to cope psychologically and emotionally,” he said.
Shepkong, who decried the rising killings in the state, called on the government at all levels and the security agencies to tackle the menace.
He particularly said that insecurity had remained a major setback towards the development of Plateau and Nigeria in general.
The president, however, called on residents of the state to live in peace with one another, eschew violence and be tolerant at all times.
On her part, Mrs Yil Fomwul-Gonsum, the Executive Director of Saphira Global Centre for Social Development, said that 66 survivors, including those who lost their loved ones benefitted from the initiative.
Fomwul-Gonsum said that the beneficiaries were carefully selected, adding that the move basically aimed at providing psychosocial support that would enable the victims to forge ahead.
She disclosed that moving forward, her organisation would make arrangements for further intervention to support the victims.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Yakubu Uba
