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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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Indian factory manager slumps, dies in Edo community

Indian factory manager slumps, dies in Edo community
By: Zagazola Makama
A 47-year-old Indian national, identified as Kalidass Arunachalam, has died after suddenly slumping while on duty at a factory in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the deceased was a production manager with Green Hills Agricultural Products Ltd. He was said to have collapsed at about 11:30 a.m. on Friday while working at the company premises.
Company representatives, including another Indian national, Tushar Tukaram Phadtare, along with the Managing Director, Suleman Dauda, and the Chief Security Officer, Lt. Col. Thompson Udom (rtd), rushed him to God’s Spring Best Care Hospital in the Obaretin Community for urgent medical attention.
A medical doctor at the facility, identified as Dr. Kingsley Dele, later confirmed Arunachalam dead while efforts were still being made to revive him.
Officials later visited the hospital where the body was found lying face up on a hospital bed with a drip attached. No visible marks of violence were observed on the corpse.
The remains of the deceased were deposited at the mortuary, and efforts are ongoing to contact the Indian Embassy to inform his next-of-kin and facilitate diplomatic procedures.
Indian factory manager slumps, dies in Edo community
News
Three missing after boat carrying passengers, vehicles capsizes in Taraba

Three missing after boat carrying passengers, vehicles capsizes in Taraba
By: Zagazola Makama
At least three persons, including a two-year-old child, are missing after a boat capsized on Friday night while ferrying passengers and vehicles across the Namnai River in Taraba State.
Zagazola Makama reports that the boat, which was transporting several passengers and three vehicles, capsized around 8:40 p.m. due to overloading and reckless navigation by the operator.
According to sources, the operator defied standing safety protocols by loading three vehicles onto the boat instead of the approved maximum of two. The mishap occurred while the boat was attempting to dock at the riverbank, when a strong wave destabilised it, causing it to overturn.
While many passengers were rescued by local divers and first responders, three victims identified as Aishatu Rilwanu, Baharatu Danasabe, and Yusuf Badaru, a two-year-old child all residents of Jantaro Ward in Mutum Biyu remain unaccounted for.
Rescue team were mobilised to scene as both community members and security personnel intensify the search and rescue efforts.
As of the time of filing this report, the rescue operation is still ongoing.
Three missing after boat carrying passengers, vehicles capsizes in Taraba
News
Security operatives arrest 22 suspected Aiye cultists in Ogun, including two soldiers

Security operatives arrest 22 suspected Aiye cultists in Ogun, including two soldiers
By: Zagazola Makama
Security operatives in Ogun have arrested 22 suspected members of the Aiye confraternity during a coordinated raid at Hilltop Hotel in Osiele, Odeda Local Government Area.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation, which took place on Friday night, followed credible intelligence received by officers at the Odeda Division regarding the unlawful gathering of cultists at the hotel.
The sources confirmed that a joint tactical team comprising officers from Aregbe Division, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), and the Anti-Cultism Unit stormed the hotel and apprehended the suspects.
Among those arrested were 19 males, three females, and two serving military personnel, suspected to be linked to the cult group.
Items recovered from the suspects include one UTC axe, a cut-to-size barrel gun, and several blue beret caps, all identified with the Aiye cult group.
The sources said that the State Criminal Investigation Department’s Anti-Cultism Unit at Eleweran has been directed to conduct a discreet investigation into the incident, while further profiling of the suspects is underway.
The sources said individuals or groups found engaging in such criminal acts would face the full weight of the law.
Security operatives arrest 22 suspected Aiye cultists in Ogun, including two soldiers
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