Z/Kataf:Kaduna Peace Commission Trains Atyap Chiefdom Peace Committee,Stakeholders

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA -The Kaduna State Peace Commission ( KAPECOM) in partnership with MERCY CORPS organized a special training for Atyap Chiefdom Peace Committee and Stakeholders aimed at ensuring sustainable peace in the local government and state in general.

Declaring the Workshop/ Training open on Thursday in Kaduna,the Governor of Kaduna State,represented by the Hon. Commissioner of Internal security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan,noted that peace is the only panacea for any meaningful development in any given society.

While commending the Agwa Atyap for constituting the committee and his invaluable contribution to peace in his domain,being a man of peace assured him of the state government’s support to ensure that Farmers and herders live in harmony with one another.

He cautioned those who take the law into their hands when they feel aggrieved,but called on them to report any attack or infraction to constituted authorities rather than take the law their hand,

He further lamented the spate of attacks and reprisal attacks,which he noted keeps aggravating the circle of violence rather than end it. He then charged the people to close ranks and report criminal elements in their midst to enhance peaceful coexistence

According to him,the Media is a key stakeholder in the issue of peace, hence the need to ensure professionalism in their reportage of violence and security challenges in the country for the interest of the common good.

In the same vein,His Royal Highness, the Agwa Atyap, Sir Dominic Yahaya,while commending the Kaduna state governor and the commissioner for lnternal security for their efforts in restoring peace in the area called for more commitment in this regard.

He commended the Peace Commission and Mercy Corps and other stakeholders for the workshop, assuring all and sundry of his committed to continue to support the committee to succeed in building bridges of peace across board to enhance development.

Speaking,the Deputy Director of Party,MERCY CORPS,Mallam Sani Suleiman while appreciating the Kaduna State government for the initiative said as an International NGO in over 40 countries of the World, their commitment to peace in Kaduna is strategic,being the heart beat of the north.

According to him,their organization supports any community initiative and structures that is active and alive in addressing issues of peace and that they are committed to keep doing that because every society needs Peace to make progress.

On her part,the Executive Vice Chairman of Kaduna State Peace Commission, Barrister Priscilla
Ankut urged Atyap Peace committee, Security Partners and stakeholders in the peace process in Atyap Chiefdom to be steadfast as they work towards achieving sustainable peace.

She said over the years, the Commission has evolved initiatives such as capacity
building, negotiation and mediation for several communities.

This she maintained is based on the Commission’s conviction that community-driven initiatives involving state and non-state actors offer the most effective approach to securing sustainable peace and security in communities.

According to her, the programme has been organised to build the capacity of relevant stakeholders on how to contribute their quota more creatively and vigorously in peace
building processes.

It would be noted that similar programmes have been organised by the Commission in the last three years with the assistance of partners, such as Mercy Corps, Interfaith Mediation Center,Kaduna among others

The event attracted the Hon. Commissioner of Youths and Sports, Kaduna State,President of Atyap Development Association, representives of the Atyap, Fulani and Hausa communities among others in the local government.

Recall,KAPECOM has taken the initiative in organising communities and stakeholders towards restoring security, peace and harmonious co-existence in several local
government areas.

The LGAs include Kajuru, Kauru, Kaura, Chikun, Kachia, Kaura, Kauru and Sanga,among others. It has done that through training a corps of volunteers to be more effective believing that those at the grassroots are better placed to initiate and implement sustainable peace processees.