AfriPulse
… Youth, women vital to peacebuilding process- Abubakar
Umar Kyari Umar El-kanemi, the Shehu of Bama, has called on the federal government to take decisive actions against terrorists and other elements by providing adequate manpower to the capacity of troops prosecuting the war.
Shehu noted that though the troops has recorded tremendous success in counter-insurgency operations, there is need for troops to sustain the current tempo through modern hardware.
Shehu, who represented Kaka Mallam Kiagama, District Head Soye in Bama town, during an event organized by the Center for Advocacy, Transorganised Accountancy Initiative (CATAI), in partnership with JAMI AL-HAKEEM and with support from the UNDP-PBF project, to commemorate the International Day of Peace in the Bama council area of Borno State at the end of the week.
The event brought together youth, women, traditional leaders, and community-based groups to reflect on the importance of peace, dialogue, and reconciliation in a community that has long been affected by conflict and instability.
He said, “We have a lot of injuries, but thanks be to Allah, now we have peace in Bama and its environs, except pockets of minor attacks. As you know, Bama town was worst hit by insurgents, but thanks to Allah, the peace has been restored through the efforts of military and prayers by our religious leader.
He opined that the government would provide the necessary tools for the military to adequately tackle the menace, “We are calling on the federal government to support us more in ttermsof security. We, the federal government , needto take issues of security sseriously and let the government be serious,;it is not a joke. We urge the federal government to support the security agencies with the right and timely manpower because without adequate manpower, they won’t be able to function well, “Shehu begged.
He urged the religious leaders and stakeholders to support the troops with prayers and useful information in their domain, “Security is everyone business so it our responsibility as traditional rulers to support troops fighting terrorism to be victorious against our enemies.”
Shehu thanked the organizers for the laudable initiatives in peacebuilding and cooperation amongst society, urging all the stakeholders to preach peace and support the security agencies in the state.
Also, Sadiq Abubakar, the Center for Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability Initiative (CATAI), explained that the commemoration of World Peace Day aims to foster unity, promote awareness of peaceful coexistence, and highlight the active role of youth and women in driving local peacebuilding initiatives.
He said, “We are creating this inclusive space, the event is expected to deepen community awareness on peace values, empower participants to take ownership of local initiatives, and serve as a catalyst for sustained dialogue in Bama.
Adding that “It will also raise visibility of grassroots peacebuilding efforts supported under the PBF-UNDP project, inspiring similar actions in other conflict-affected areas of Northeast Nigeria.
According to him, the initiative aimed to showcase cultural and peacebuilding efforts to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders while providing a platform for participants to share experiences and propose solutions to community challenges.
Source: Businessday.ng | Read the Full Story…
