NGO takes peace awareness campaigns to warring communities in Adamawa

A Non Governmental Organisation, (NGO), Global Peace Development (GPD), has taken peace awareness campaigns to warring communities in Adamawa State.

The Director, Ebruke Onaji Esike, disclosed that his group was in the state to sensitize residents of the warring communities on the importance of peace and conflicts resolution before it eacalates into war.

He linked the recurring conflicts and violence in the state to dearth of development and steady displacement of citizenry especially those in the crisis prone local governments.

Esike at a courtesy call on the commissioner for local government affairs, Alhaji Muhammed Umar, also stated that aside human displacement, crisis often lead to loss of lives and infrastructure “that pushes and pull some of the inhabitants to embrace violence and criminalities.”

According to him, the option of violence is seen by the affected youths “as a way to address perceived grievances around unemployment, poor infrastructure, poverty and underdevelopment.”

He added that the menace of insecurity is consciously ignited by the growing numbers of agitated youths,” citing emergence of the dreaded “Shila boys” in Yola North as a valid case.

Esike also referred to the degradation of natural resources and climate change stressors which has incapacitated the farming sector as another bothering case in the state.

“This has led to inter-communal violence in Lamurde local government associated to preventable competition for agricultural land,” he pointed.

Applauding the state government for its support for GPD, the NGO further called for more synergy with its host in security and conflict management in Adamawa, “especially Yola north and Numan local governments.

Responding, the elated Umar commended the group for its selfless move to rid Adamawa of violence.

He however hinted that since the state holds security meetings on Tuesdays and Mondays, “we urge you people to come and attend one of the sittings,” he urged.