By Isaac Eranga  CLEEN Foundation a civil society organisation, has called on protesters in the planned August 1st nationwide protest to cooperate with the various law enforcement agencies in order to ensure the safety and rights of individuals and security operatives,  urging all participants  to exercise their rights responsibly, conduct the protest peacefully without resorting to violence or vandalism. The Executive Director of the organization, Dr. Gad Peter in a statement on Tuesday, in Abuja  charged protesters to cooperate with law enforcement agencies, respect the rights of others, and be mindful of public property and the safety of all individuals. Peter noted that, the proposed protest is a legitimate form of expression enshrined in International Human Rights Instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and Nigeria’s 1999 C...

Engineer Eugene Okoeguale, Edo P4P coordinator  As Nigerians prepare for a nationwide protest on August 1st, 2024, to register their grievances concerning the economic hardship bedeviling them, the Partners for Peace (P4P) in the Niger Delta, Edo state chapter, has called on the organisers and protesters to make peace their watchword. This call was contained in a Press Statement signed by Edo State Coordinator  - Engr. Eugene Okoeguale and made available to SOCIAL REPORTERS NEWS SERVICE in Benin City. The P4P calls on all stakeholders to eschew violence and go on a peaceful  rally.  "Violence is irreconcilable with an understanding of civil disobedience as a mode of public address or speech.  The civil disobedient is allowed the right to warn and admonish but he/she is not entitled to use violence in order to achieve his avowed aim. "Civil disobedience should be geared towards a vital social purpose. Such a purpose may be achieved either by violating an obnoxiou...

Destroyed property as a result of Igarra flood A feminist civil society organisation - the BraveHeart Initiative (BHI) says over 200 homes were affected, especially vulnerable children and women in the recent Igarra flood incidence. This was revealed in a report of assessment conducted by the organisation and made available to newsmen by the Executive Director of BHI- Priscilla Usiobaifo. The report highlighted Domingo Street, Lawani Street, Market Road, Orere and Alafia Street as the most affected areas. "On July 16th, 2024, the BraveHeart Initiative team carried out an assessment of the affected populations in the hardest-hit areas, to rapidly assess damages and identify the most pressing needs of the victims. About forty-five(45) houses were visited, covering Lawani Street through Old Sege Road, Market Road, Technical Road, Domingo Street, Orere, and Behind Alafia Hospital off Afekhai Street. This assessment was conducted through video/ oral interviews and self-administered que...

Participants at the REcAP workshop in Abuja The persistent threat of violent extremism in West African states, exacerbated by groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Al-Qaeda, necessitates a reevaluation of current strategies. The complexity of this issue, driven by factors such as widespread poverty, weak governance, political instability, and limited educational opportunities, calls for a comprehensive and multifaceted approach. This article by Senator Iroegbu and Maureen Okpe, highlights the urgent need for a new strategy that addresses the socio-economic and political root causes of extremism, emphasizing the importance of community engagement, economic development, and inclusive governance in building a more resilient and peaceful West Africa. Rising Extremism and Its Drivers Violent extremism has long plagued West African countries, with groups such as Boko Haram and its splinter groups like the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Ansaru, bandits, herdsmen, and Al-Qae...

By Isaac Eranga Chief Dr. Bridget Osakwe (4th from left), Mrs Patience Ikpeh Obaulo (6th from left) and other WANEP staff at Gender and Equal Opportunity Commission, Plateau State. 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 urgen...

By Isaac Eranga  Cross-section of participants at the just concluded theories of Change dissemination workshop in Port Harcourt  In an effort towards promoting inclusive and gender sensitive approaches to peace and security responses in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, a workshop on Theories of Change (ToC) has been held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.  The workshop was under the auspices of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP Nigeria), in collaboration with the University of Leicester.  Welcoming participants, WANEP's South/South zonal Coordinator - Pastor (Mrs) Bridget Affiah said the theories of Change were meant to simplify the work of women in the areas of gender based violence (GBV) and their participation in peacebuilding processes. She said "today in the Niger Delta, women are playing critical role in the socio-economic development of their communities. Women of 60 years and abov...

By Isaac Eranga, Edo Indigenous Journalist Engr. Eugene Okoeguale- Edo Coordinator of Partners for Peace in the Niger Delta As the campaigns for Edo governorship 2024 election bid for September gathers momentum,  the Partners for Peace (P4P) in the Niger Delta, Edo State chapter has called on all political parties's candidates and their supporters to make peaceful and violence-free campaign their watchwords. This was contained in a Press Release signed by the State Coordinator- Engr. Eugene Okoeguale. The release condemned the recent killing of a policeman perpetuated by hoodlums in Benin City. It called on key actors to focus on issue-based campaigns, highlighting their vision and blueprints for the development of Edo State.  "Let's eschew hate speech, personal attacks, and divisive rhetorics that can lead to violence, instability, and political apathy in Edo polity. "To the supporters, we urge you to remain peaceful and law-abiding, even in the face of provocation. ...