Following a series of constructive dialogues facilitated by the Global Peace Development (GPD), with funding support from International Alert, the Dangoma and Goska communities in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna state have signed a peace pact.
The event organized by the GPD, with support from International Alert aimed at addressing long-standing conflicts and foster sustainable peace and development in the area.
Speaking at the event held at Dangoma community on Monday August 5, 2024 the Executive Director of GPD, Ebruke Onajite Esike, said the event marked a significant milestone in its shared journey towards access to justice, accountability and stability targeted at five communities in Chikun and Jema’a Local Government Areas who have been severely impacted by violence, sexual and gender-based violence that could have been prevented.
Esike said: “In the past 1 year, Global Peace Development (GPD) with funding support from International Alert have engaged and empowered 3,396 persons in the state through awareness raising, training, dialogue forums, cultural initiatives, policy advocacy, and the establishment of Women Peace and Mediation Platforms (WOPEMP) in the two targeted LGAs.
The ED GPD noted that the intervention opened channels of communication that allowed conflicting communities and parties to understand each other better and instilled some elements of culture of peace in the five project impact areas.
“This peace pact signing is a testament to our collective resolve to promote sustainable Peace though continuous reconciliation, tolerance, accountability, and justice been served,” Esike added.
A key component of the peace pact is the establishment of a Joint Peace Committee between the two communities. This committee will monitor activities of nomads, ensure adherence to community laws, and facilitate solidarity meetings to promote understanding, discourage underaged grazing and prevent future conflicts. Both communities have also pledged to report incidents of sexual and gender-based violence.
In his remarks, the Country Director of International Alert represented by the Project Manager, Sunday Jimoh, commended the communities for their cooperation and active participation which enabled the project achieve it’s objectives of promoting accountability and justice.
He praised the impact of the project noting that it has become a model for other states to emulate. He cited the Zamfara state ministry of Justice as an example who has decided to also copy the Kaduna State multi-door court model because of the access it gives people to air their grieves and also create a platform for reconciliation.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Jema’a LGA, Yunana Barde, appealed to residents to support and cooperate with government agencies in building peace, as he thanked God for the existing peace in the area.
Similarly, the District Head of Nikyob (Kaninkon) Chiefdom, represented by the Village Head of Angwan Tudun, Benedict Bala Bin, lauded the GPD’s initiatives and called for more of such projects in other communities.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Village Heads of Dangoma and Goska communities commended GPD and International Alert for their efforts in building peace and pledged to sustain the existing harmony between their communities
Highlight of the event include the formal signing of the peace pact and cultural display.
