Communities in Kaura local government area of Kaduna state have been urged to manage conflicts for better understanding and friendship among the diversities of the people. Mr. Bamidele Fagbite of Christian Aid (CAID), made the call while addressing participants at a high level dialogue forum with stakeholders on peaceful coexistence between herders and farmers, organised by youths in support of community development, Zonkwa, in collaboration with Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Kaduna State Peace Commission.
The dialogue, which took place at the Kaura local government hall, also called the attention of communities to ensure they handle misunderstanding over trivial issues in the community to avoid issues escalating into crisis. Bamidele further said the dialogue is an avenue that gives people the opportunity to open out their hearts and discuss the real reason leading to conflict with the prospects of how to end it, in addition to avoiding it, live peacefully and have mutual respect and understanding among all irrespective of any difference. While advising the communities to bear in mind that everybody has just a little time to spend on earth, Bamidele observed that instead of spending their time on conflict, they should rather use it effectively on matters that would bring development and peace.
Earlier in his address, the coordinator, Youth in Support of Community Development, Zonkwa, Mr. Iliya Magaji, said that the purpose of the forum was to strengthen peaceful coexistence among herders and farmers to ensure sustainable peace in the area. Magaji said the programme was designed based on the project tagged “Building Early Warnings Early Response System” in communities of Mafan, Mekakpang, Zangan and 12 other neighbouring communities to avoid future occurrence of violence. Speaking on behalf of the herders, the Ardon Zangan, Alhaji Ibrahim Adamu, who was represented by Mallam Hussaini Adamu, said the herders are peaceloving people and are at any time ready to listen to anybody that will organise programme on bringing people together to find ways of building peace.
Also speaking for the communities, Mr. Victor Dodo, Godfrey Chawai and Matthew Peter said the communities in Kaura were peace-loving and were ready to live with the herders peacefully. In a goodwill message at the occasion, the Senator representing Southern Kaduna, Danjuma Tella Laah, represented by his legislative aide, Major Baba, said the incessant crisis in the area was a source of concern to him as he has done everything possible to stop the reprisals and provide help
