Kaduna State is said to be witnessing emergence of youth restiveness in recent times, resulting in some factors that could be associated with unemployment, illiteracy, peer group influence, economic hardship and poverty.
The occurrence of such acts of violence and lawlessness among youth groups in the State, leading to attacks on innocent people depriving them of valuables, risk to their lives, that has seen many injured and killed due to such activities in the State.
It is against these series of violent lawlessness and attacks, Conflict Mitigation Management Regional Council (CMMRC), Community Peace Observers (CPOs) and Network of Peace Journalist met in Kaduna and came out condemning the violent nature of such attacks with a plea for drastic action to address the resurgence.
“As a network working in preventing conflicts, we will not relent to testify and call on the State government to do more in this regard. We have observed the atrocities happening in other northern States; hence our plea to take action as the case of Katsina State that has in place laws in addressing such menace.
“We the members of the program on Community Initiative to Promote Peace (CIPP) will continue to work with all relevant agencies, most especially the Kaduna State government to do more, so as to curb the threat of such barbaric conducts.
“We believe that parents are in the best position to take drastic steps and should be responsible for the conducts of their children, while calling on community members to avail useful information to ensure that they observe and monitor the activities by reporting to the relevant authorities toward addressing such problems in the State.
“We equally notice that there are hot spots and locations that have become safe Haven for such atrocities to strive. We are calling on community members to ensure that we expose such locations in the best interest for peace and stability in communities across the State.
“Having seen the negative rise in such activities, we felt the State government to help address such issues in collaboration by working in synergy with community leaders, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) among other key stakeholders to ensure that locations that are a threat for community members should be reported as this will help to curb issues around criminality and violence.
“We call and solicit on all relevant authorities to act swiftly in arresting and prosecuting perpetrators of these evil acts so that they can face the full wrath of the law by ensuring that communities are safe and people can go about their normal daily routine without any harassment, intimidation, attacks from such groups, while calling community members, stakeholders and government to ensure that those identified can be fully engaged.
“By engaging them to acquire skills and to be empowered would distract them from their present predicaments.
“This press release is a joint commitment to say ‘‘Enough-Enough of violent attacks on community members towards peace and stability in Kaduna State’’ CMMRC, CPOs and network on Peace Journalism has decided to issue this press release to join voices among many other citizens to ensure that peace and development in the State is sustained.
“We wish to conclude that peace is the bed-rock of every society, hence our commitment to ensure that when we do something by reporting the same to help make our communities safe for sustainable growth and development, we equally appeal to relevant authorities in the State to act fast and take the necessary actions.
‘Our prayers to alll that have been afflicted in one way on the other from such attacks for speedy recovery and hope that the government will ensure that justice prevails and communities are safe, sound and peaceful.
Signed:
Alh. Yusuf Usman – Chairman – CMMRC – Kaduna State
Rev. Danlami Gajere – CPO – Chairman – Kajuru LGA
Comrade Muhammad Zakkariyya – CPO – Chairman – Kajuru LGA
Ibrahima Yakubu -Coordinator Forum for Media on Peace Journalism
Deacon Micah Shabi – People with Disability (PWD) – CMMRC – Kaduna State
