Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The North East Youth Initiative for Development (NEYIF) has distributed conflict resolution platforms to various communities in Yobe State.
The handing over of the platforms was to strengthen early warning response systems against any criminal activity in communities across the state.
While distributing them, over the weekend (Saturday), in Damaturu, the representative of the Executive Director of NEYIF, Mijinyawa Ali, disclosed that they will enhance the security of communities in Gujba, Gulani and Geidam Councils.
He noted that the three Local Government Areas, were severally attacked by Boko Haram terrorists with the loss of many lives and property since 2014.
According to him, the early warning platforms were established in 2018 with about 25 participants from the security agencies, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and community stakeholders.
“These platforms are for market women and youths associations,” he said, adding that they include people living with disabilities, community and religious leaders,” he said.
He said that the informal security outfits of the vigilantes and hunters; are to adopt the applications of the platforms in conflict prevention and resolutions.
Besides, he added: “This will enhance State and Community Management (SCOM) of conflicts to prevent them from escalating in the Northeast.”
He noted that successes were recorded on the stigmatization of the repentant Boko Haram insurgents and their families, but they were accepted into their respective communities.
He stated that other successes were the relocation of the Magistrate Court from Garin Alkali to Geidam, a border community with Niger Republic.
According to him, the border community was however; weary over suspected supply of cooked food to the insurgents by food vendors; including the vigilantes’ misuse of their positions in communities.
He, therefore, called on the affected Councils to accept and support the three Criminal Possession of Stolen Property (CPSP) platforms in communities.
“You should continue with the good work the platforms have been doing in the last four years,” he said.
