Joseph Edegbo :
In an effort to boost peaceful coexistence through Dialogue and Non Violent Actions, some members of Network of Nigerian Facilitators (NNF) of the United States Institute of Peace, paid an advocacy visit to the Paramount Ruler of the Kaninkon Chiefdom, His Royal Highness, Tum Nikyob, Chief Tanko Tete last week, in Bakin Kogi, Jema’a Local Government, Kaduna Nigeria.
The Project Facilitator, Sekyen Dadik, said the visit was aimed at introducing the Network of Nigerian Facilitators and its Dialogue Project to the Traditional ruler, and also solicit his blessing and support to engage community members in Goska and Dangoma Communities of his chiefdom in peace dialogues.
She said the project titled: Community Dialogue for Peace and Stability among Goska and Dangoma Communities in Kaninkon Chiefdom, Jema’a Local Government seeks to engage key stakeholders through dialogue to restore trust and peaceful coexistence within the community.
His Royal Highness, Chief Tanko Tete alongside other Council members including the Village Heads of Goska and Dangoma, the target communities for the project received the team and appreciated them “for counting it worthy to knock on his door to inform him of the project”.
Mallam Tete assured the team of every cooperation needed from the Village Heads and the Council Members, saying “the Chiefdom will put an eye on your project and will give our full cooperation so that the aim of the project will be achieved“.
Rev. Bitrus Dangiwa, also a member of NNF reiterated that the Dialogue process targets communities with differences and they are brought to work together to proffer solutions that would work for all parties to ensure lasting peace.
The Goska and Dangoma communities experienced major crises after the 2016 christmas eve attack, which led to interventions in 2017.
However, pockets of attacks and counter attacks between herders and farmers persist threatening the fragile peace in the communities.
The Community Based Dialogue project which will last for a year is under the United States Institute of Peace, Network of Nigerian Facilitators‘ programme.
