From Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
The Plateau State Chapter of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN) has sensitise Christian and Muslim stakeholders from Naraguta community of Jos North LGA of Plateau State on the need to coexist peacefully, as a result of the resurgence of violence in the area.
Naraguta is the host community of the permanent site of the University of Jos, which has recently been bedeviled by security challenges.
The two day workshop which is organised by FOMWAN Plateau State Chapter and funded by USAID with the theme: Intra/Inter-Ethnic and Religious Workshop, tagged: Supporting Religious Freedom in Local Communities in Nigeria, is held in Jos, the State Capital.
In his keynote address address, Governor Simon Lalong, appreciated FOMWAN’s intervention considering its significance in contributing to the peace process in the State.
Lalong who was represented by the Director General, Plateau Peace Building Agency, Joseph Lengmang, reflected deeply into the significance of the Jos crisis in its 20 years existence, and how it has escalated to other parts of the State.
He appreciated the resilience of the citizens for collaboratively working together.
The Governor commended FOMWAN and USAID for its continuous work, especially in the area of interfaith dialogue.
Lalong appealed to the citizenry to be more responsive to peaceful coexistence ; create avenue to dialogue, respect one another and to be honest with each other; so that all resources invested at different levels would be justified.
Earlier in her welcome address, Hajiya Muhibba Amirah of FOMWAN said, “Nigeria is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious amalgam, home to over 250 ethnic groups and 500 languages. Ethno-religious conflict and unhealthy intra group relations accounts for the persisteng of violence that have made communities more vulnerable and our young people susceptible to violence.
“You will agree with me that the proliferation of small and light weapons, religious extremism, disregards to democratic structure and institutions of social control, substance misuse, porous borders are amongst the many things that have compounded the vulnerability of the society to the escalation of conflict to violence across Nigeria and specifically in the Nortlern part of the country.
According to her, “Nigeria’s conflict is often exacertated by ballooning demographics, poverty, economics inequalities, and heightened competition over natural resources.
Adding that, “For each act of violence, there are at times multiple competing narrative as to why violence has happened.
The Nigerian government reacts against violence in the form of military and police operations throughout the country. Yet, the security forces lack adequate trainng and are underpaid, and spread too thin to effectively protect many Nigerians.
Amirah explained that, “The purpose of this program is to contribute to thé reduction of violent conflicts in target communities within these two assigned Local Government Areas (Jos North/Jos South) by promoting religious freedom, social cohesion and ability to peacefully mitigate community dispute without degenerating into ethno-religious conflict.
“This project is aimed at creating and enhancing interfaith dialogue and consultative forum to achieve trust and confidence building in both communities; through confidence interactions and commu ications among diverse groups of the community; to collaboratively identify, reduce social vices and crimes.
“Identify idle youths to be engaged in productive ventures to tackle poverty and hardship.
“This will also improve local security system through synergy building and collaboration for continuous protection of human lives and properties”, she maintained.
“We will like to again reiterate to you that, you have been carefully chosen based on your level of influence and relevance to navigate us through a generation of people who advance interfaith an inter-ethnic cohesion”, Amirah stressed.
The Commander Operation Safe Haven, who also doubles as the GOC 3 Armoured Division Rukuba, Major General Ibrahim Ali, encouraged young people to sheath their sword, adding that the youths seem recalcitrant to all the dialogues.
He outlined the significance of religion, but regretted that despite its proliferation, there seems to be less commiserating impact on interfaith tolerance.
Participants were drawn from Naraguta community in Jos North LGA of the State.
