Forum resolves 1,000 conflicts in Benue, 2 other states
The Inter-state Forum Agenda under the Protecting Our Communities Initiative (POCI) has said that it resolved over 1,000 potentially violent conflicts in Benue, Zamfara and Kaduna states within the last five years. Musa Umaru Aboki, the Executive Director of Voluntary Initiative in Zamfara State, told journalists in Makurdi that the feat was achieved with the […]
The Inter-state Forum Agenda under the Protecting Our Communities Initiative (POCI) has said that it resolved over 1,000 potentially violent conflicts in Benue, Zamfara and Kaduna states within the last five years.
Musa Umaru Aboki, the Executive Director of Voluntary Initiative in Zamfara State, told journalists in Makurdi that the feat was achieved with the NEEM Foundation leading the pack of its partners to include Elohim Development Foundation (EDF), the Kaduna Centre for Peace Building and the Hope for the Village Child Foundation (HVCF).
He said, “In terms of the number of conflicts resolved through POCI; so far we have resolved over 1,000 conflicts cutting across communities. Basically, we have dialogue facilitators who intervened in the conflicts using the reflective dialogue. There is also the early warning, early response committee members; some are 15, 17 or 20.”
Also, Dr Victoria Daor, the Executive Director of Elohim Development Foundation in Benúe State, one of the three Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working with NEEM, expressed satisfaction with the successes recorded while working in Benue’s two LGAs of Guma and Gwer West.
She said the setup of early warning response committee made up of community members and a few security agents helped to curb violence, noting that the conflicts were not just about farmers and herders; but other activities that could escalate to communal crisis.
Dr Victoria said, “We have a platform for dialogue which gives participants opportunities to speak to each other in a non-judgemental way – it’s a process that brings about peace and satisfaction from both sides. Now, traditional rulers even refer cases to the Community Dialogue Facilitators.”