Isiyaku Ahmed
Through advocacy and community sensitization, the Civil Society Organization for Conflict Resolution in Nigeria (CS-CRIN) says it is achieving a certain level of success in curbing extrajudicial and human killings, hate speech, political and urban violence in Kano state.
The Executive Director and National Coordinator, CS-CRIN, Mr. Adeniyi Aremu made the assertion during a press briefing held at its Kano on Friday.
He said the successes were recorded under the project “Strengthening Community Engagement towards Peacebuilding and Conflict Management in Kano State, Nigeria (SCEPAC – Project)” which CS-CRIN is implementing with support from the Agents for Citizen-Driven Transformation (ACT) Program of the British Council funded by European Union.
“In the last three months, we have achieved a lot,” Mr. Aremu said.
“We involved Security Agencies; Nigerian Police Force, especially the anti-daba squad in Kano, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and IDPs, Ministry of Justice, CSOs, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria Kano Chapter, Religious and Traditional Leaders and Community Members to sensitize citizens on extrajudicial and human killings, hate speech, political and urban violence.
“In the process, we identified causes of the problems and together with stakeholders proffered ways forward,” he added.
The CS-CRIN Executive confirmed that over 300 cases of herders/farmers clashes were resolved through dialogue and conflict resolution in the period under review.
“We received 10 distress calls from Dala, Fage, Kano Municipal, Nasarawa, Rogo, and Ungogo Local Government Areas (LGAs).
“We also recorded over 6,000 cases of gender-based violence from Sumaila LGA in the same period.”
Mr. Aremu then presented a-three months findings of the community sensitization on curbing extrajudicial and human killings, hate speech, political and urban violence in Kano state to newsmen.
EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS
Findings by CS-CRIN revealed that the causes of extra-judicial killings include a lack of respect for constitutional provisions and rule of law, the absence of a community policing mechanism to manage and oversee relevant security agencies.
A lack of periodic sensitization and awareness creation for relevant Security Personnel on the respect for rule of law, and lack of professionalism and misconduct on the part of security personnel in discharging their duties.
The way forward to address these challenges according to the report includes equipping the judiciary arm to have a fast efficient judicial system, e.g. domestication of (ACJA), competency should be a yardstick for employment of security personnel, the welfare of security personnel should be taken care of seriously.
Others are accountable against any act of extrajudicial killings should be the watchword i.e. the culprit should be made to face the wrath of the law, a periodic sensitization and awareness creation for relevant security personnel, and conducting periodic training/test on the mental, psychological and emotional state of our security personnel.
HUMAN KILLINGS
The report identified illiteracy, ignorance, drug Abuse, unemployment, religious/cultural, and ethnic sentiments as root causes.
Some of the solutions to the problems are raising awareness through sensitization programs, educating citizens on the legal impact and punishment of crimes, awareness training, creation of rehabilitation centers, and strict punishment of offenders for drug offenders.
Others are the creation of an enabling environment, job opportunities, skill acquisition programs, and parental upbringing and mentorship from religious leaders.
HATE SPEECH
Include issues such as incitement, discrimination, hostility, or violence towards a person or group of persons by race, religion, ethnicity, or other factors
According to the report, the causes are political interest, religious inclination, tribalism, economic Interest, lack of well-articulated policy on social media, and lack of clarity of purpose on the part of the Government.
Some of the solutions preferred are religious tolerance through balancing religious sermons, regulating social media, politics without bitterness, sensitization on the effect of hate speech, and integration of hate speech and peacebuilding into our school curriculum.
URBAN VIOLENCE
The report identified urban violence as phone snatching, gender-based violence, and rape. And the causes are drug abuse, political rivalry, rural/urban migration, a weak education system, thuggery, a lack of Stakeholder participation in community policing, and unemployment
It suggested political and voters education program, strong education system, moral background and good upbringing of children, guidance and counseling support for the youthful population, strengthening security agencies with equipment, media advocacy, and house to house sensitization
According to Mr. Aremu, his organization is looking to organize a National Peace Summit in Kano to engage stakeholders on peace and nation-building.
