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Emirs in Northeast Seek Strengthening of Traditional Institutions for Peace Building

Emirs in Northeast Seek Strengthening of Traditional Institutions for Peace Building
By Michael Mike
The Emir of Fika, His Royal Highness Alhaji Mohammadu Abali Ibn Mohammed Idrissa, has called for the strengthening of traditional institutions, insisting that the role of traditional rulers in peace building across the nation cannot be wished away.
Speaking in Abuja at the European Union(EU) and the British Council (BC) funded Managing Conflict in Nigeria (MCN) Programme: “Practice Dissemination Workshop on Initiatives to Strengthen Traditional Justice System, Impact dissemination and lessons learning event for traditional justice intervention in the North East,” Idrissa, who is also the Chairman of the Yobe State Council of Traditional Rulers, insisted that traditional rulers have a critical role in peace building and resolution.
He said that the duty of peacebuilding and resolution, which was hitherto domiciled with the emirates, has been taken over by the government.
The MCN Programme, which was implemented by the British Council in the states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe, trained no fewer than 2,404 traditional rulers and community leaders in dispute resolution between 2017 and 2023. The programme aimed to improve security and stability in the region, preventing population displacement and forced and irregular migration.
Idrissa noted that the peaceful community development initiative strategy, which was formulated and funded by the British Council and the European Union, needs to be sustained to ensure lasting peace in the region. He emphasized that for any developmental program to be sustainable, especially in the areas of Peace Building and Effective Conflict Management, the Traditional Institutions are critical for the desired success.
The Emir of Bade, Yobe state, HRH Alhaji Abubakar Umar Suleiman, also emphasized that traditional institutions are responsible for resolving conflicts and are the best way of conflict resolution as it has no cost and delays like government institutions.
Meanwhile, the Gangwari Ganye, Adamawa state, HRH Umaru Adamu Sanda, regretted that the greatest victims of conflict are from the northeast affected by activities of Boko Haram. He urged traditional rulers to understand the basics of conflict resolution to enable them to perform better as rulers.
In his welcome remarks, the National Programme Manager, MCN, Prof. Mohammed Tabiu, explained that the program focused on managing conflict in the North East had been implemented in the past six years to enhance the capacity of traditional rulers on peace and conflict resolution.
Tabiu revealed that over 2,404 traditional rulers and community leaders in three North East states were trained in dispute resolution between 2017 and 2023. He also disclosed that no fewer than 44,411 different cases ranging from disputes between farmers and herders, business disputes, family and domestic concerns, theft, and others had been resolved using knowledge from the training by traditional rulers and community leaders in the emirates covered by the program.
Tabu explained that the MCN Programme sought to enhance the capacity of government, security, community, and civil society institutions and actors to address factors that contribute to the outbreak, intensity, impact, and prolongation of violent conflicts. He added that the program was piloted in four Emirates in each of the North East states where the program was implemented, “as part of its intervention on strengthening community level conflict management mechanisms, the program has worked with the traditional institutions and actors targeting 12 key emirates across the region.”
Tabu listed the emirates as Adamawa emirate, Mubi emirate, Ganye emirate, Bachama traditional council; Borno emirate, Biu emirate, Dikwa emirate and Gwoza emirate in Borno State; Fika emirate, Damaturu emirate, Bade emirate and Pataskum emirate in Yobe State. He said that the stakeholders’ capacity was strengthened by alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, Nigerian civil law, human rights, and the interface between formal and non-formal security and safety institutions in its bid to create an interface in the delivery of justice.
Tabu further revealed that a total of 1920 participants, including district heads, village heads, ward heads as well as 160 wives and women involved in community safety concerns had been trained by the program. The program also supported each emirate to establish a record-keeping center for documenting identified and engaged issues and used data obtained from different levels to plan a response, decision making, and other specific purpose such as addressing sexual and gender-based violence.
Tabiu also added that research by the MCN revealed a modest increase in public perception of the effective functioning of the Traditional Justice System (TJS) from 40 percent in 2017 to 45 percent in 2022 and that 336,047 people have benefited from the services of TJS. He also highlighted that through the knowledge gained from the program, one of the beneficiaries of Fika Emirate, testified that his emirate was able to address a dispute that had lingered for over 60 years.
Emirs in Northeast Seek Strengthening of Traditional Institutions for Peace Building
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Man kills father during domestic dispute in Bauchi community

Man kills father during domestic dispute in Bauchi community
By: Zagazola Makama
A man, identified as Limam Muhammad Baba, has allegedly killed his biological father, Malam Baba Siti, during a domestic altercation.
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday, July 3, at about 10:15 p.m., in Uzum village, Giade Local Government Area of Bauchi State, when an argument between the two escalated, leading Limam to strike his father on the head with a stick.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the victim collapsed immediately and lost consciousness.
Police sources say “The report was received at the Giade Divisional Police Headquarters at about 10:30 p.m. that the suspect used force on his biological father by striking him on the head with a stick, leading to the victim falling unconscious.
He added that a team of police operatives was immediately mobilised to the scene. The suspect was arrested, and the victim was taken to the General Hospital in Giade, where a medical doctor confirmed him dead on arrival.
The police sources said the body of the deceased was deposited at the hospital morgue while an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident has commenced.
He assured that the suspect would be charged to court upon completion of investigation.
Man kills father during domestic dispute in Bauchi community
News
Deputy chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA attacked, four suspects arrested

Deputy chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA attacked, four suspects arrested
By: Zagazola Makama
Security forces have apprehended four suspects in connection with an attack on the Deputy Chairman of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, Mr Christopher Chia.
Sources told Zagazola Makama, that the incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, July 3, when Chia was reportedly attacked by a group of young men suspected to be cultists.
The sources said the police received a distress call from the victim at about 6:00 a.m.
“Police patrol and tactical teams were immediately deployed to the scene. The victim was rescued and taken to Toro Hospital in Katsina-Ala, where he was treated and later discharged,” said the sources.
According to the sources, preliminary investigation led to the arrest of four suspects, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the prime suspect identified simply as Richard, a member of the Black Axe confraternity, who is currently at large.
The sources added that the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has commenced a full investigation into the matter to unravel the motive behind the attack and bring all those involved to justice.
Deputy chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA attacked, four suspects arrested
News
Joint task force rescues kidnap victim in Abuja after 40km forest operation

Joint task force rescues kidnap victim in Abuja after 40km forest operation
By: Zagazola Makama
A joint task force comprising operatives of the
Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, local hunters, and vigilantes has successfully rescued a kidnap victim, Rasheed Soyinka, after a 40-kilometre forest operation across parts of Abuja.
Zagazola Makama learnt that the victim was abducted at gunpoint from his residence in Sabon Lugbe in the early hours of July 3, prompting a swift multi-agency response.
Shortly after the abduction, which occurred around 1:00 a.m., a joint task force involving the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, DSS operatives, local hunters, and vigilante groups, swung into action.
The coordinated operation, extended through Dafara via Gau Forest in Kuje Area Council and continued into Kabin Mongoro and Kwaita forests in Kwali Area Council, covering an estimated distance of 40 kilometres.
“Following sustained pressure and professional coordination, the victim was rescued at about 12:05 a.m. on July 4 without any casualties,”said the sources.
Soyinka was subsequently reunited with his family through his elder brother, while efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing abductors.
Joint task force rescues kidnap victim in Abuja after 40km forest operation
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