By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
A group, Development Initiative of West Africa in collaboration with Dar Al Andalus Centre (DAAC) have step up efforts to address violence and promote peaceful co-existence Plateau state and middle belt.
This followed an organised consultative engagement with strategic stakeholders in Jos, the State Capital, with participants drawn from communities in Barkin Ladi, Jos North and Riyom Local Government Areas of the State.
The consultative engagement titled; Building Bridges: Prevent and Mitigate Interreligious Violence and Promote Peaceful Co-existence in the Middlebelt of Nigeria.
Speaking at the opening of the event, Program Manager of (DIWA), Musa Muhammed, said, “we are here to have a consultative engagement with critical stakeholders in Plateau State.
“For our plan and endeavour towards peace building, especially exploring the influence of religious, traditional, women and youth leaders, among others, to bring their goodwill and also have them guide the project for the next 18 months with their wisdom and experience.
According to him, “The overall objective of the project is to mitigate interreligious tensions and promote peaceful co-existence among actors with different worldviews.
“It is also to empower religious leaders, gatekeepers, women and youth from Christian and Muslim communities to build trust and mutual understanding.
“To reduce interfaith tensions, and promote social cohesion through collaborative, community-driven initiatives that foster sustainable peace in the region”, he explained.
“The choice of these three local government areas came through alot of consultation with various stakeholders.
He further stated that, “These three local government areas have their shared experiences in conflict.
“So, even though they are a bit stable now, but there is what we call remodeling approach; if you have experience conflict and now you are back to normal, we want to work with you to tap from your experience, so that if we have any opportunity to cascade, we use your learning to go go on to other communities”, he maintained.
Also speaking, the Program Manager (DAAC), Jaafar Dauda, said, “In most cases, this violence is sparked by other things, not necessarily religion.
“Once violence erupts, you will quickly see how it divides itself along religious lines; because Nigerians are so religious.
“Violence can be instigated very easy, using religion as a tool.
“If you critically look at what led to the violence, you will find out that its hardly religious”, he stressed.
This same project is ongoing in Benue and Nasarawa States.
