BY NONYELUM JULIET
Kaduna
As parts of its activities in promoting peaceful co-existence in the communities, a non-governmental organization (NGO), Global Peace Development (GPD) with support from International Alert (IA) on Saturday held inclusive dialogue on access to justice in Juji community, Chikun local government area of Kaduna State.
The initiative was part of the project’s activities in promoting stability, access to justice and accountability in Northwest region of the country.
The Stakeholders at the meeting which was held at Juji community with the theme: Facilitate Inclusive Dialogue on Access to Justice, SGBV and Harmful Practices identified community engagement and dialogue as the most strategic method to mitigate conflicts between farmers and herders in their community.
The community stakeholders had earlier identified farmers/herders clashes as major conflict in their community.
They resolved that military and police involvement in resolving the farmers-herders crisis should only be when the conflict assumes a violent dimension where killings and fighting are recorded.
They condemned the first resort to the military and security agencies in times of crisis as one that would never bring about a lasting restoration of peace in conflict areas.
The community stakeholders agreed to make laws that will be guide them in order to reduce conflict, stealing and other vices in their community.
Mrs Grace Solomon, the Community Woman Leader stressed the importance of dialogue to achieving peace in places where farmers-herders conflicts are recorded.
The community youth leader, Hosea Bawa who is also JTF commander, Sabo Tasha appealed to the government to provide police outpost in Juji community, saying it will help to maintain law and order in the community.
He equally appealed to the government to build schools, primary healthcare in their community, saying that there is no single hospital both public and private in a community of about 8,000 houses, he added.
The Project Officer, GPD, Yusuf Yashioh Baba said that the essence of the meeting was to give the Community Dialogue Facilitators the opportunity to begin to handle dialogue within their communities.
Baba urged the participants to go back and stepdown the lessons learnt which is the only way they can promote stability, access to social justice and facilitate inclusive dialogue on access to justice.
On his part, the Data Officer, Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, Ahmed Sani Yahaya commended Global Peace Development and International Alert for organizing programs that promote peaceful co-existence in the society.
He urged the participants to create awareness on issues that promote peace and stability in their community.
