
Participants at a community dialogue forum for reconciliation, reintegration and sustainable peace in Borno
By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Stakeholders at a community dialogue forum for reconciliation, reintegration and sustainable peace have urged the Borno State Government, non governmental organisations, amongst others to improve on security in all communities across the state.
The stakeholders also called for the adoption and implementation of transitional justice for the repentant Boko Haram terrorists as well reconciliation and reintegration to strengthen peace, reconciliation and sustainability.
They made the call on Monday at a community dialogue organized by Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, which was held at Community Development Centre, Shehuri North of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC).
The participants recommended the there is need for government and security agencies as well as community and religious leaders to monitor the conduct and behaviour of the returnee repentant terrorists in the communities and ensuring that peace prevails among people and communities.
They were also of the opinion that stigmatization against the returnee repentant insurgents should be stopped by the residents and love should be shown to the returnees to give them sense of belonging and affection.
Majority of the participants suggested for proper channels and procedures for their reintegration and reconciliation under strict measures to ensure nothing contrary happens while others appealed to government and other stakeholders to however empower the returnees to make them self reliant and busy instead of allowing them to remain idle .
The participants also recommended the engagement of women and girls in trading and marriage while the men should be engaged in farming and other commercial activities to sustain a living while calling on the repentant to be law abiding and respect constituted authorities.
Others suggested that the girls should be encouraged to enroll in school in other to continue their education or engage in marriage. They also cautioned the repentant to desist from communicating with their former colleagues in the bush which they described as betrayal and sabotage.
Some of the participants said forgiveness and accepting the repentant insurgents genuinely is necessary and important for peaceful coexistence, sustainable development and peace.
The participants further advised that sustainable and regular capacity building and orientation by NGOs and government should be emphasized and maintained, especially among the youths who are jobless and idle.
They suggested that a formidable machinery comprising of the community leaders , religious leaders, ethnic group leaders, youths and women group leaders should be engaged in the process and procedure of returning the repentant insurgents for overall acceptability and sustainability of peace and development in the community.
On his part, the Village Head of Shehuri North, Zanna Zubairu Dima commended the efforts and support of Allamin Foundation for starting the project in Shehuri North community, which he described as an appreciative and acclaimed developmental project.
Also, the Project Manager of Allamin Foundation, Mr. O Samuel, said the community dialogue was aimed at gathering opinions and views as feedback for peace building, reconciliation and reintegration of the repentant insurgents to their communities .
He added that the forum was targeted at encouraging communication and interactions among people and communities for peace, progress and development as well as finding out what the problems and challenges are from the people with a view to ensuring transitional justice prevails.
The project manager said the dialogue was to ascertain areas of reconciliation and interventions by organisations and governments towards sustaining and establishing formidable peaceful frameworks which is all inclusive of community leaders, religious , ethnic, women, groups, among others.