By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Stakeholders in Borno State have called for an improved welfare for the victims of Boko Haram insurgency in North East region.
They also called for proper and effective management of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) including the provision of basic facilities at the IDPs camps.
The stakeholders made the call during a one day dialogue on transitional Justice System which was held at Women Development Center in Maiduguri.
The workshop which was jointly organized by Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development and UK Foreign Communication and Development Office in Nigeria, has the theme, ” From Insurgency to stability: Towards an Agenda for Community-Level Transitional Justice in Borno State”.
They said the call became necessary following the special treatment given to repentant terrorists, who voluntarily surrendered after committing the crimes.
The stakeholders amongst others suggested that proper and adequate healthcare treatment, provision of adequate food and non food items should be provided by the government and NGOs to cushion their hardships and sufferings in detentions and IDPs Camps.
It was also suggested that the victims of the conflict should be made to have access to their families and loved ones and treated with dignity not humiliated and raped in camps and detentions, stressing that individuals and organizations on humanitarian support do neglect the victims instead of assisting and supporting them.
The stakeholders were also of the opinion that community, members and leaders were not involved or carried along in the type of transitional Justice being applied on them while urging for the incorporation of key components recommendations and suggestions of the community members, leaders and media in the process in order to ensure positive traditional justice system for the people in the promotion justice and unity.
They also noted that forgiveness, reconciliation and dialogue among aggrieved parties should be adopted for peace and and progress of the society in promoting human rights and justice as citizens of the country while the media should embark on sensitization and campaigns on transitional Justice .
It was suggested that the military and other security agents should endeavour to be proactive to practical issues and accommodate justice among the victims of conflict or insurgency without any sentiment or bias.
The stakeholders further recommended that governments should disabuse the mind sets of the perpetrators and victims on religious sentiments and promote unity and peace as the best option and way for peace and meaningful developments and sustainability..
On his part, The Project Manager, Mr. Samuel Orahii said the workshop was aimed at mobilizing stakeholders in Borno State to develop transitional justice and reconciliation policy recommendations in north east Nigeria”, under the Conflict, Stability and Security Food (CSSF) in the Lake Chad Basin (LCB).
Mr. Orahii added that the project is being implemented in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), Bama, Dikwa and Gwoza LGA of the state, while participants were drawn from the media and other stakeholders from the security and government who are directly involved in the counter insurgency .
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