Put spotlight on threat to Peace in 36 States
At a time, when insecurity has gotten to its zenith in the country, an Independent Peacebuilding Organization, Foundation for Peace Professional also known as PeacePro has put together, a report titled “State of Peace in Nigeria” to put spotlight on manifest threat to peace in the country.
The report, according to Peacepro is to document state specific threat to peace for the ease of reference and to put peacebuilding at the forefront of national conversation with the aim of making peacebuilding centre piece of national security.
In a statement made available to newsmen over the weekend by Abdulrazaq Hamzat, an Executive Director of the organization, State of Peace Report captures in real time, what has been happening in Nigerian States for the month of January.
The report, according to Hamzat, is to illuminate very concisely, issues threatening peace across the 36 States of Nigeria and how the authorities are dealing with it.
PeacePro explained that, this january edition is the first, in a report that would now be published on a monthly basis.
According to Hamzat, State of Peace report shall help direct a narrow intense beam of light on contencious issues and the organization has made some recommendation to address some of the issues.
“State of Peace report described Katsina and Zamfara State as epic Center of banditry in the country, nothing that banditry has risen to insurgency level, requiring full attention like the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.
In Abia State, PeacePro identify farmers-herders clashes as a threat.
The group also identify Eastern Security Network of Indegenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a threat, describing the threat posed by the seperatist group, as insurgency.
Other threats in Abia State highlighted by the report include Abia-Akwa Ibom border clash in Ikwuano and Obot community, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Self Acquired Tricycle Owners Association (SATOA).
In Adamawa, PeacePro identify a group known as Shila Boys as threat, aswell as degradation of natural resources.
The recurring communal crisis between Umueri and Aguleri communities in Anambra was identified as threat, aswell as the alleged land grabbing by suspected agents of State Housing Development Corporation.
In Bayelsa State and Edo, cultism and herders crisis were identified as threat.
In the Federal Capital Territory, PeacePro says that increasing rate of Kidnaping and armed robbery, especially in Abaji to Kogi road is a threat, warning that this renewed criminality May threaten the security of the fct.
Threat in each of the 36 States was identified and recommendations were given, the statement said.
Hamzat therefore urges Government, both at State and Federal level to pay more attention to these threats and find lasting solution to them.
End