Following a meeting initiated by the Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, warring communities have agreed to cede hostilities against each other, to keep faith with an expanded process of bringing lasting peace to the area.
According to a communiqué issued at the end of meeting held at Kagarko local government Secretariat, “the meeting unanimously agreed that the violent communal conflicts in the area were unnecessary, unwarranted, uncalled for and counterproductive and endorsed the following major resolutions.”
Signed by the Spokesperson of the group, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman on Tuesday, the communiqué also stated that the “meeting adopted the template already drawn up by the CNG and used to achieve a successful cessation of hostilities between the Jukun and Tiv in Taraba state.”
The meeting resolved as follows:
“That a committee of CNG representatives and the community leaders be mandated to articulate the observed problems for further deliberation at an expanded fora in Kaduna to involve all relevant government organs, traditional, religious and cultural institutions, elders and other stakeholders in the state.
“That CNG would facilitate the training of youths from all the local government areas in conflict perception, resolution and management.
“That meanwhile all the community leaders present at the meeting agreed unanimously to encourage and ensure an immediate cessation of hostilities in the entire area and keep faith with the process initiated by the CNG,”
Identified as factors responsible for the security breakdown in Southern Kaduna include: unemployment and indiscipline; lack of political will by leaders; manipulation of narratives and adulteration of facts; intolerance and impatience and influx of foreigners.
CNG appealed to the humanity of the parties, which it said is the primary identity while every other affiliations, including ethnicity and religion, are secondary identities.
