By Husaini Yero The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), an NGO, has commended the Shinkafi local government area of Zamfara for adopting a c...
By Husaini Yero
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), an NGO, has commended the Shinkafi local government area of Zamfara for adopting a community-based peace approach.
The Coalition’s Chairman in the state, Mr. Hussaini Hassan, gave the commendation while briefing newsmen in Gusau.
According to him, the CNG firmly believes that banditry is a local problem that requires local solutions.
“These local solutions can be achieved through a community-based peace approach based on inter-ethnic dialogue and consultations between all stakeholders.
“Therefore, we are calling on the local communities in Zamfara and other states in the North West to embrace the community-based peace and reconciliation initiative as an alternative approach to peace and security.
“Local communities should drive this approach based on mutual consent and respect for one another,” Hassan added.
He noted that for nearly two decades, Zamfara has been experiencing insecurity, with residents at high risk due to increasing banditry activities across the state.
He said the residents continue to lose their means of livelihood on a daily basis, and access to farmlands is becoming almost impossible.
“Thousands of people, particularly in rural communities, are being killed and displaced. Children are becoming orphans, while women are becoming widows and street beggars.
“As we address this conference, some major roads and markets across the state remain closed, leading to an exponential increase in poverty among the people.
“As banditry persists on a daily basis, it is forcing businesses to close or relocate, leading to unemployment,” he lamented.
According to him, education is suffering greatly, as students from primary and post-primary schools are being abducted indiscriminately.
“Substantial numbers of schools, particularly in rural communities, are either deserted or turned into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps,” he explained.
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