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| GOODLIFE HALL, #5 RESTHOUSE, CLOSE TO PLATEAU HOTEL |
The
meeting commence at about 9:50am. The assistant technician of save project,
Hajiya Binta Adamu gave the opening remark by welcoming all present then she...
expressed her gratitude to individuals for honoring their invitation. Saying
this, she called on the program manager to give an over-view of the save
project organization.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ORGANIZATION
According
to Mr. Ezekiel Uwana, the aim of save project is to change the behavior and to
counter radicalization of communities, the use of save approach is a vital tool
to use in tackling security challenges in places like Kano, Yobe, Kaduna,
Plateau and Kogi state. The organization also uses education as a tool to reach
out to both secondary and primary school students so as enlighten them on moral
conduct.
He further stated that the
organization is working seriously with religious leaders so as to know the kind
of messages they pass across to their followers. He added that the project seek
to work with women who will help them in decision making.
Mr. Simon Suwan, who chaired the
meeting said: “stakeholder meeting is a platform where people come to give
their opinions on issues”. Therefore, it is important for the organization to
have representative from different groups to make contributions that will help
the growth of the organization. Having said this, he gave room for individuals to
contribute to local context causing violence in our communities and the
approach use in tackling it.
The Barki Ladi conflict was said to be
between the Fulani and the Berom, which comes as a result of cattle rustling,
and illegal grazing on farmers farm land destroying planted crops. This is said
to be the cause of violent conflict between the Fulani and the Berom. Another
factor that was seen to be the cause of Barki Ladi conflict is the continues
abuse of alcohol/drugs substances by youths which as a result tend to make them
very aggressive, and easy to be manipulated to engaging in violent practice.
Samuel Wamba submitted that land issue
is one of the factors causing conflict in Jos North local government; it has
been the case of who owns the land or who the settlers are. This issue has been
lingering for years, therefore has caused violence conflict in the communities.
He also made a reference to a tribe in Bassa called Rukuba and Iregwe, who had
faced the same problem of land boundary.
The “nned” for land use, and water are
also another issue causing conflict in Bokkos. A farmer is looking for water to
water his plant and the Fulani also wanting water to feed his cattle’s which as
a result led to violence conflict.
According to Sarmaki Gad, the conflict
in plateau state generally has taking a shape of high alcohol consumption and
criminality which has caused the youths to lose focus. He stated that the slow
response of our security personnel is not helping matters as they tend to
ignore their duty post, which make the community vulnerable for attack.
Emma Ado (security personnel) said
generally in Nigeria our leaders are corrupt. Therefore, the security should
not be blamed. He stated that, every nation get the kind of security they want.
Our leaders are so carried away by traveling out the country, yet they do
nothing possible to help the country. He defended the security agencies by
saying that they are helping matters, but it’s just that there is a political
undertone that is influencing them from been effective. He further said that value
of system is another problem in our community. People seem not to regard the
rules and regulations guiding communities. Discrimination of each other is
another problem we face in different communities. People never care or love
each other anymore, once you are not from the same faith with them you are not
for them. Another factor is the spreading of wrong information.
Rev. Simon Goro emphasized the guerilla
warfare to be a big problem in our communities. The guerilla attack has led to accusing
of the innocent ones. He made known that Jos is sitting on a time bomb and it
will be very dangerous when it explode. The guerilla war has made the settlers
in our communities not go to farm, because of the fear of being attack which of
course is leading to hunger/poverty and children cannot go to school anymore.
Mr. Sarmaki added to his speech saying
that fear is a problem we face in our communities. A situation where a stranger
enters a community and the people conclude to be an enemy therefore, lay ambush
on the fellow. Trauma is another case that causes conflict in our communities.
People that lost their loved ones tend to revenge due to the pains in their
heart.
THE APPROACHE USED TO TACKLE THESE PROBLEMS
1. Creating platform for people to come together an
express their feeling.
2. Creating linkages among the security agencies.
3. Connecting community with relevant authority that
will help the community handle the conflict.
4. Local approach that will initiate peace were used by
traditional rulers
5. Religious, Traditional and Youth leaders were
encouraged to always work with the security.
6. Peaceful messages were used to combat the violence.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. There should be more organizations working on trauma
healing
2. There should be vigilante group.
3. Security agencies should be proactive.
4. Youths should be engaged in skillful activities.
5. Emotion should be dealt with.
6. Human rights should be respected.
7. Nigeria’s boarders should be seriously guided.
CONCLUSION
The meeting
ended with a word of advice to individuals to embrace change, and to live in
peace with one another for the betterment of our country. A vote of thanks was
given by the program manager, Mr. Ezekiel Uwana.
Attended and
Reported by (Jerry Bulus “DREP Project Officer”, Theresa Francis Pam “DREP Project
Officer”, and Joyce Emmanuel “DREP IT student from FALEAD SCHOOL OF PEACE
STUDIES”.)
Posted by: Prosper Ikechukwu Egeonu (Drep Project Officer)
Drep Program Manager: Chris Ogbonna
Follow us @drepcentre
Email: drepcentrejos@yahoo.com, drepcentre@gmail.com
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