The peace process initiated by Governor Abdullahi Adamu in Toto local government area of Nasarawa state has further been strengthened by the inauguration of a five-man management committee to run the affairs of the local government area. Swearing-in members of the committee in Lafia on Monday, May 07, 2001, the State Governor, Abdullahi Adamu, said the appointment of the committee was part of the efforts by his administration to restore peace and normalcy to the crisis-torn communities of the area.

The communal crisis in the local government, with the Egburras and Bassas as the principal parties, dates back to several decades. However, the crisis took a turn for the worse in 1997 and 1998, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives and the sacking of virtually all the Bassas from their ancestral homes.

Speaking further at the occasion, Governor Adamu said his administration has invested heavily in time and resources to further the cause of peace in the area. He said in the process, various peace and reconciliatory committees were set up, culminating in the return of the displaced Bassa ethnic group.

Governor Adamu however regretted that since the return of the Bassas in July 2000, all efforts to advance the peace process through the proper resettlement of the Bassa had run into hitches. He said that the government had documented evidence of the murder of a Bassa returnee around one of the resettlement camps and reports of unprovoked harassment, beatings and intimidation of the returnees, adding that these acts were deliberate and calculated to frustrate the full implementation of the resettlement plans. Furthermore, these acts were largely responsible for the reluctance of the Federal government to conduct elections in the area, Governor Adamu said.

The appointment of the Management Committee, according to Governor Adamu, was the first step towards the eventual conduct of elections and establishment of democratic structures in the local area. The Governor therefore appealed to the people of the area to assist the state government to ensure the return of peace, stressing, "we are committed to the cause of peace in Toto and will do whatever is within our power and resources to achieve full peace and reconciliation in Toto".

Responding, the Chairman of the caretaker Committee, Mallam Gani Aliyu Joko, expressed profound gratitude to the government for the decision taken to set up the management committee and assured that the committee members were very aware of the difficult and challenging task ahead of them. He however assured that the committee would not fail the government because "we recognize and appreciate the fact that the call to duty is one that must be accomplished".

While calling on all the people of Toto local government to support the committee, Mallam Joko said only peace could guarantee the implementation of a peoples oriented agenda for the area.

Other members of the management committee included, Mallam Mohammed Zhokwo; Mr. Azaki Beshi, Mallam Saidu Umar Dikko and Mallam Isa Usman Toto.