By Sani Idris
The Country Director of Global Peace Foundation, Rev. John Hayab, said they were committed to starting a new journey towards actualization of peace in Kaduna State.
Hayab said this on Monday at an expanded town hall meeting on peace building initiative in Abakpa community in Kaduna and its environs.
Nigerian News Network reports that the meeting was in partnership with the Justice, Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC).
Hayab who described Kaduna communities as being tolerant and living together irrespective of religious or tribal identity in the past, said it had gradually lost it glory due to intolerance and political differences.
“A lot of prominent people in various spheres of life narrate stories of how they began their nostalgic lives in Kaduna, now it has turned into a place of division, tension and conflict. Now the stories people hear about Kaduna is not good enough,’’ he said.
He noted that the foundation in collaboration with HJDPC perceived the idea of reaching out to local communities and engage them on the need to restore back the old friendship and begin a new journey of peace in Kaduna.
“The last time, we met with Abakpa and Unguwan Shanu communities, now we decided to expand the meeting by inviting people from Tudun Wada, Kawo, Hayin Banki, Malali, Badarawa and Kurmin Mashi,’’ he said.
He explained that their hope was to achieve meaningful progress on the need for peaceful coexistence and further expand the initiative to other communities.
“Our aim and prayers is to bring back the lost glory of Kaduna State, the situation we are in today is not good for our children, the government and the generations that are yet to come.
“We want good stories to be told about Kaduna State as it has been in the past and that is why we selected 40 people from the various communities and engage them on peaceful coexistence and we will keep the work going to various communities gradually,’’ he said.
He called on residents of Kaduna to be peaceful, tolerant and law abiding.
“Let’s do all we can to restore the lost glory of Kaduna, it’s painful for people to say bad things about where we come from, we must show and do things that are desired for integration,” Hayab said.
Also, the Northern Coordinator of the foundation, Sheikh Halliru Maraya, urged the people of Kaduna and Nigerian as a whole to imbibe the culture of togetherness.
“As humans, regardless of social differences, we belong to the one family of Adam and Eve,’’ he said.
According to him, development ceased to exist in Kaduna because the people now live in isolation unlike in the past when togetherness brought about massive development and trust.
He called on the government to mitigate all forms of impunity, provide quality education and reduce unemployment to bring about meaningful developing.
One of the participant, Sanusi Surajo from Tudun Wada, said he would convey the message to his community for people to shun violence and hatred.
“I will make sure I continue to advocate for oneness, we are all one family and by this, it means we have so much in common. We will encourage our people to make friends with believers of other religion,’’ Surajo said.
Another participant, Mrs Victoria Dong from Abakpa community, said she would propagate the message of peace and unity to people she mingle with.
“Abakpa has been a settlement for both religions, however, the Christians now are very few, but we will try our best to ensure they do not go away in totality and convince those that have left to come back and settle,’’ she said.
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Edited by Sani Idris
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Gunmen in NSCDC uniform kill two, injure others in Rivers
… Civil defence denies involvement
By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt
Gunmen dressed in the uniform of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have killed two persons and injured five others at Agulu Creek, Asari Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State.
It was gathered that the unknown gunmen, who operated in three 200 horse powerboats, opened fire on the innocent citizens at about 5pm on Sunday.
The Rivers NSCDC command, in a statement signed by the Assistant Commandant, Oguntuase Michael, however, denied the involvement of its personnel in the incident.
Oguntuase in the statement said: “This is to inform the general public that the NSCDC has nothing to do with the said attack on innocent victims around 1700hrs of 30th May 2021.
READ ALSO: Residents shun IPOB’s sit-at-home order in Rivers
“The said attack, which led to persons sustaining severe injuries, one still missing leaving one dead at Angulu-Ama Creek in Asari Toru LGA of the state, was launched by unknown gunmen, some who were said to be dressed in suspected NSCDC uniform, boarded in three boats, (200 horsepower) opened fire at innocent citizens of the area.
“Contrary to the accusations from some quarters that the attackers were civil defence personnel, the command, hereby, declares that it is not true as it does not own any boat with such capacity engine neither has it carried out surveillance operations along that area for some time now.
“The attack has got no link to the NSCDC. Therefore, the general public is hereby advised to disregard such insinuations and claims and to see it as misleading and untrue.”
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