SOKAPU fumes over resurgence of killings in Southern Kaduna

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union, (SOKAPU), has expressed dismay of the resurgence of terrorist activities in the area, after what it termed as electioneering break.

President of the union, Mr Awemi Dio Maisamari, asserted this during a press conference held in Kaduna yesterday.

Maisamari, opined that the latest sad event is the invasion of Runji village (Sankwab) in Atyap land Zangon Kataf LGA in Southern Kaduna, which was invaded by marauding armed herdsmen.

According to him, no fewer than 42 houses were burnt with 17 women and children roasted beyond recognition; 12 corpses mutilated by machete cuts and bullet shots were picked on and around the village.

He added that later in the day, 4 persons that were rushed to hospitals, died of their wounds, bringing the death toll to 33.

“The victims were buried in a mass grave on the eastern edge of the village. Southern Kaduna is dotted by numerous mass graves of such kind of victims.

“As usual, the Kaduna State Government and the Federal Government have not visited the place, nor send any form of assistance to the scores that have been rendered homeless.

“So far, there has been an apparent failure or refusal by the Kaduna State government under the Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i and the Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government to apprehend and prosecute the killers.

“We interpret this as a clear indication of their complicity in the genocide in various parts of Southern Kaduna,” he said.

Furthermore, the union expressed sadness over purported silence of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), the Africa Union (AU), the CommonWealth of Nations and the United Nations (UN) over the unrelenting pogrom in Southern Kaduna.

He therefore, called for a UN or AU Peace Enforcement Operations Base in Southern Kaduna.

“This will in practicality demonstrate that the world is interested in our collective survival as minority ethnic groups.

“ECOWAS, UN or AU must not abandon us to be hounded by well funded and well-armed herdsmen who are being encouraged and protected by their powerful kinsmen and collaborators and outside Nigeria”, SOKAPU added.

L-R: Chairman, House of Representatives Ad-Hoc committee to investigate oil theft, Hon. Mark Gbillah, members of the committee, Hon. Jimoh Olajide and Hon. Oghene Egoh during a meeting of the AdHoc Committee to investigate Alleged theft of over 2.4 Billion in revenue from illegal sales of 48 million barrels of crude oil, at the National Assemblyin, yesterday in Abuja.

NGO tasks media, CSOs on eliminating SGBV, child marriage

ANon Governmental Organisation (NGO), Palladium Nigeria, has tasked the media and critical stakeholders on the need to eliminate Sexual and GenderBased Violence (SGBV), and Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM) in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders were trained in Abuja on Wednesday under Palladium’s Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project, sponsored by USAID.

Other stakeholders trained were Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Business Member Organisations (BMOs) on reporting Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), and Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM).

Mr Eric Umoru, the Social Protection Adviser, Palladium’s SCALE project, said the exercise aimed at encouraging more reportage, sensitisation and advocacies on policy reforms and implementation that would eliminate SGBV and CEFM cases.

Umoru said the exercise was necessitated due to the increasing cases of SGBV, child early and forced marriage, trafficking in persons and so many other forms of violence in the society.

“These cases are increasing because of the spate of insecurity and poverty, which has increased the rate of abuse.

“So we decided to organise this training for these critical stakeholders so that they are better aware of some of the dynamics of abuse and some of the antics that exploiters use in carrying out their cases.

“Following this improved learning, we expect participants to develop reports, media contents from a trauma informed perspective on the extent of damage, that SGBV causes on victims,” he said.

Stressing the need for collaboration between key stakeholders, Umoru urged them to amplify their voices on improving policy implementation towards ending violence and harmful practices in Nigeria.

“There are a lot of policies around SGBV and CFM that have not been implemented adequately.

“So they need to, as active stakeholders in response, call out stakeholders to push for reforms and implementation as the case may be,” he said.

Umoru also encouraged media organisations to highlight the drivers, indicators, effects and the long term effects of violence in their work.

“They should be able to amplify the voices of survivors, where they are not able to speak, they’re able to call out irresponsive government attitudes and behaviour that is facilitating that.

“We are localising the responses by working with local organisations, media practitioners and grassroots base structures that can help to amplify it.

“So we continue to engage government for accountability and increased great response,” he said.

Dr Maji Peterx, the Country Director, Equal Access International, described SGBV and CEFM as an endemic, hence the need to sensitise the public on its negative impacts in the psyche and societal structure.

Peterx, also a facilitator, said the workshop would raise consciousness around negativities in the society and create a system that was more appealing to younger people.

“This is to raise awareness, reconscientise people to increase knowledge about the ills of SGBV,” he said.

Ms Ene Oshaba, a gender advocate, said the training had further enlightened her on new ways of reporting SGBV, especially the need to understand issues and why people behave the way they do.

“One need to be very conscious of the fact that our society is context based and that shapes our attitudes and behaviour.

“As a journalist, I have a huge responsibility in changing the narratives with very impactful and issue based reporting on women and girls.

“Amplifying the voices of women and girls is a key step to finding lasting solutions to their societal challenges,” she said.

Mrs Maureen Okpe, a gender reporter, said: “We discussed about conflict, which we always tie to negative outcome, but the training made me understand things differently as conflict in itself is neutral.

”But the outcome which is determined by our response is what makes the difference.

“During conflict our response is influenced by so many things by our experience, educational qualification, exposure and environment; these determines how we react to things,” she said.