PPBA And UCPTH Restore Hope Through Trauma Healing For Victims Of The Angwan Rukuba Palm Sunday Attack
In a renewed effort to promote healing, reconciliation and lasting peace, the Plateau State Peace Building Agency (PPBA), in partnership with the Unique Centre for Peacebuilding and Trauma Healing (UCPTH), organised a three-day Trauma Healing and Psychosocial Support Programme for victims of the Angwan Rukuba Palm Sunday attack. The intervention, held at Chwelnyap Hall in Jos, brought together direct victims and affected families to begin the process of emotional recovery, strengthen resilience and rebuild social cohesion within the community.
Speaking during the programme, the Director General of the Plateau State Peace Building Agency, Dr. Julie Sanda, described the Angwan Rukuba Palm Sunday attack as a devastating tragedy that shook residents and threatened the peace and stability that had gradually returned to Jos North and Plateau State. She noted that the magnitude of the incident highlighted the urgent need for post-conflict rehabilitation, stressing that unresolved trauma in conflict-affected communities can hinder recovery and create conditions for renewed violence. She explained that the agency, in collaboration with partners, identified trauma healing as a critical intervention to support survivors and reinforce ongoing peacebuilding efforts.
Dr. Sanda disclosed that the agency spent three days providing confidential trauma counselling and psychosocial support to about 40 direct victims and affected families, describing the intervention as the first phase of a broader recovery process. According to her, the programme is designed to help survivors rebuild their lives, develop healthy coping mechanisms and foster resilient communities capable of thriving again. She added that beyond individual healing, the initiative seeks to restore social cohesion among neighbouring communities, using Angwan Rukuba as an entry point for wider peacebuilding interventions across Jos North.
The Founder and Executive Director of the Unique Centre for Peacebuilding and Trauma Healing, Mr. Mugu Zakka Bako, explained that the programme was implemented in partnership with the Plateau State Peace Building Agency, which funded the initiative, while his organisation provided the technical expertise. He said participants were taken through practical sessions on understanding trauma, its causes, symptoms and effects, grief management, anger control and forgiveness, using interactive demonstrations and exercises to encourage healing.
Mr. Bako expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the programme, noting that many participants returned home emotionally strengthened and better equipped to cope with their experiences. He commended the Plateau State Peace Building Agency for prioritising mental health and called for sustained follow-up through counselling and community engagement, stressing that many more victims still require similar support to prevent retraumatisation and ensure lasting recovery.
One of the facilitators, Mr. Adamu Kwaltamai Ibrahim, said the programme equipped participants with practical tools for understanding trauma, healing from grief, building resilience, practising self-care and strengthening community relationships. He observed that many participants arrived with denial, bitterness, anger and thoughts of revenge but gradually embraced forgiveness and renewed hope by the end of the training. He described the intervention as a meaningful step towards restoring emotional well-being and rebuilding peaceful communities.
Participants also shared moving testimonies of healing and transformation. Jonathan Arin, who lost his son and two other relatives in the attack, described the programme as life-changing, saying it restored his peace and emotional stability. He expressed gratitude to the Plateau State Government, the Plateau State Peace Building Agency and the facilitators, adding that he intends to share the lessons he learned with his family and other affected community members so that more people can benefit from the healing process.
Similarly, Nanret Azi from the Angwan Rukuba community recounted the painful loss of her husband during the March 29 attack. She admitted that she initially struggled with overwhelming grief, anger and an inability to forgive those responsible. However, she said the trauma healing sessions taught her the importance of forgiveness, emotional healing and letting go of bitterness. According to her, the programme has given her renewed inner peace and enabled her to better care for her children despite her painful loss.
The three-day intervention highlighted the importance of addressing the psychological and emotional impact of violent conflict alongside physical recovery. By equipping survivors with coping strategies, promoting forgiveness and rebuilding trust within communities, the Plateau State Peace Building Agency and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable peace, resilience and post-conflict recovery across Plateau State.
