El-Rufai, Lalong laud peace pact among Kaduna communities

A peace initiative meant to bring sanity to warring communities in Kaduna State was signed yesterday.

The Kafanchan Peace Declaration at the instance of Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) was witnessed by Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai and his Plateau State counterpart, Simon Bako Lalong.

The peace project, supported by the Canadian Government climaxed with the signing of the agreement in Kafanchan, headquarters of Jema’a local council in Kaduna yesterday.

In his remarks, El-Rufai said: “Today is a landmark day for peace. I am delighted to be here to witness the Kafanchan Peace Declaration. This declaration is an emphatic statement by our communities in southern Kaduna of their commitment to peace and their choice of dialogue and non-violent means to resolve differences.

“The Kaduna State government welcomes the Kafanchan Peace Declaration. I congratulate the communities and leaders of Sanga, Kachia, Kaura, Zangon Kataf and Jema’a local councils for choosing dialogue over violence. I am glad to see 29 communities sitting here as one.”

Stating government’s commitment to the project, he explained that: “The Kafanchan Peace Declaration rightly identifies justice as a pillar of peace,” adding, “I wish to assure you that this government is committed to ending impunity, and to ensure that the perpetrators of violence are prosecuted.”