By Mumini Abdulkareem
Brian Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBDYI), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has trained farmers and herders in Nasarawa State on alternative conflict resolution techniques.
Speaking at the one-day training last week in Lafia, Executive Director of BBDYI, Mr Olasupo Abideen said the training was to sensitise participants to early signs of conflicts.
Details of the seminar were made available to National Pilot in Ilorin weekend.
According to Abideen, “They would be equipped with the technical know-how to respond promptly if the early signs manifest to avert conflicts in their respective communities”, he said.
According to him, the participants were carefully selected from communities in eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
He listed the communities to include Angwan-Zaria in Akwanga, Dadin Kowa in Keffi, and Azuba Bashayi in Lafia Local Governent Area.
Others are Alizaga in Nassarawa-Eggon, Tudun Adabu in Obi, Aloshi in Keana LGA, Nakere in Wamba, Mahanga in Awe and Garaku in Kokona Local Government Area respectively.
Abideen said the exercise was the pilot scheme adding that the group intends to replicate it in all the LGAs of the state.
He noted that the group which is a non-profit organisation, decided to train farmers and herders on alternative conflicts resolution techniques as part of efforts to address insecurity in the country.
He cautioned that the spate of violent activities in North-Central states if not properly tackled could plunge the country into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
The Executive Director further said that a study by the group revealed that more than 17,200 lives were lost between 2000 and 2019 in Nigeria as a result of farmers, herders crises.
He attributed the cause of clashes between farmers and herders to struggle for land resources and climate change.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Suleiman Abdullahi from Angwan-Zaria and Rahab Danladi, expressed gratitude to the NGO for the initiative.
The duo believed that the knowledge gained from the training would enable them contribute toward conflicts resolution in their respective communities.
