Building lasting peace in Plateau State: WANEP engages key stakeholders
Activities aimed at fostering lasting peace in conflict prone Local Government Areas of Plateau State has been piloted by the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP Nigeria). According to WANEP Nigeria, the program is aimed at addressing the precarious situation caused by the aftermath effect of the conflicts which are mainly violent in nature.
This was revealed in a press statement signed by WANEP's National Network Coordinator- Chief Dr. Bridget Osakwe and the Head of Program- Mrs. Patience Ikpeh Obaulo. The statement has it that the situation within the villages in the affected Local Government Areas- Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu in Plateau State is precarious as after the attacks, the hurts from the losses persist and that it has eroded peaceful co-existence. The statement called for an urgent need for the women to air their views, concerns and needs in a non- violent manner, and to allow the key authorities to understand their plights and work with them towards finding a lasting solution to frequent attacks in these areas.
The program afforded WANEP the opportunity to engage in Advocacy visits to selected stakeholders such as Gender and Equal Opportunity Commission; Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development; and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Also included as part of the program is Conflict Mitigation and Peace Dialogue with Key Stakeholders in Plateau State, and a Town Hall Meeting aimed at assessing and enhancing Community Policing in Plateau.
"The Advocacy visits aimed to advocate to key stakeholders about the importance of reinforcing peace structures and proactive conflict prevention measures within communities in Plateau State. Also the advocacy visit aimed to discuss strategies to promote an inclusive approach to peacebuilding in Plateau State.
"The Conflict Mitigation and Peace Dialogue with Key Stakeholders was designed to bring together various stakeholders and practitioners to discuss effective conflict mitigation strategies in the four-conflict prone Local Government Areas in Plateau State – Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin – Ladi and Wase. It provides the opportunity to share insights, develop collaborative approaches, and build a unified framework for peacebuilding efforts in Plateau State.
"At the state level, a 1- day Town Hall meeting will aim to sensitize stakeholders on the relevance of strengthening community policing structures, was held. The program will enumerate the role women can play in partnering with men in community policing. Also, the forum will aim to leverage on the already existing informal security system in Plateau state. Community policing will help in intelligence gathering about the conflict while the police would respond to such threats. This will help address the challenges of insecurity and ensure early warning to avert conflict. The recommendations from the town hall meeting will be documented and presented as a policy brief to the state government for implementation towards promoting peace in Plateau State.
"Community-level early warning reports validated by media reports have recorded the devastating impact Plateau communities faced in 2023, recording attacks at least every month and resulting in the tragic loss of over 300 lives. The relentless cycle of violence has cast a dark shadow over this once-idyllic region, underscoring the urgency for comprehensive and inclusive solutions to address the root causes of conflict.
"The recent and most deadly attacks in the state took place between December 23 and 25, 2023. Armed Gun men suspected to be herdsmen carried out a series of violent coordinated attacks on twenty- three (23) local villages identified as Christian farming communities including Lisha community Kwahasnat, KambarIpelli, Mutfyan, Pushit etc in three local Government Areas (LGAs) - Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu of Plateau State. Preliminary reports by volunteers of the Nigerian Red Cross Society after an on-the-spot assessment indicate that over 213 individuals lost their lives as a result of the attacks.
"In a second attack on January 23, 2024, thirty (30) persons were reported killed by armed gun men alleged to be herders at Kwahaslalek village in Mangu Local Government Area (LGA). Victims who were cut up in the violence, mostly women and children, had run to the house of a community leader in the area on the previous night for safety following earlier unrest during the day in Mangu town when the gunmen surrounded them and killed them all.
"The third attack on March 10, 2024 happened in Wase Local Government Area situated over twenty (20) Kilometres from Mangu LGA. It was reported that the incidence which happened at Zurak Company Market left seven person dead including three women and several others injured", said the statement.
The program which was conducted in three different locations of Plateau State, started on Monday 22nd July, and ended on Wednesday 23rd July, 2024.
Comments