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IPCR Urges Muslim To Pray For Peace, Development Of Nigeria

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IPCR Urges Muslim To Pray For Peace, Development Of Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The Director General of Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, has called Muslim Umma in Nigeria on the occasion of Eid al-Adha to pray for peace and development of Nigeria.

Ochogwu, while extending his warmest congratulations to Muslims in the country on the occasion of the festival, said the “Festival of Sacrifice” is a celebration of faith, obedience and devotion. He urged Nigerians to acknowledge the values of sacrifice, compassion, generosity that are embodied in the spirit of Eid al-Adha.

Ochogwu, also charged Nigerians regardless of their religious beliefs or backgrounds, to use this occasion to promote peace, unity, love and harmony, noting that without these virtues a nation is far from development.

He said occasion like this call for a sober reflection, insisting that “our minds should dwell on those things that bind us together and also capable of promoting development in the country.”

He said that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is aware of the current challenges in our country and is working round the clock to ensure that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

He however charged Nigerians to support President Tinubu’s administration in his steady steps to make Nigeria great.

He noted that Mr. President’s decisions are geared towards revamping the economy, block all loopholes, curtail insecurity, promote businesses and infrastructural developments amongst other things.

Appealing to Nigerians to give the government of President Tinubu more time, Ochogwu said this is the right occasion, the celebration of Eid al-Adha, a significant event in the Islamic calendar, where Nigerians should acknowledge the values of sacrifice, compassion, generosity that are embodied in this celebration.

He said that the Institute is aware of the enormous challenges facing the country, but charged Nigerians to keep hope alive and continue to have faith that a new Nigeria will rise from the ashes of these challenges.

Ochogwu said: “Let our thoughts and actions be peaceful, tolerant, and receptive towards one another as this is the only organic means to change the dangerous narrative that has eaten deep into our social fabrics and national cohesion. Nigerians should rise up with one accord to build a nation of our dream.

“I congratulate all Nigerians on this auspicious occasion and wish everyone a happy Eid al-Adha.”

IPCR Urges Muslim To Pray For Peace, Development Of Nigeria

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Zulum Rewards Dedicated Igbo Health Worker with House, Automatic Employment for her Son

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Zulum Rewards Dedicated Igbo Health Worker with House, Automatic Employment for her Son

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has presented a fully-furnished two-bedroom house to an Igbo health worker, Mrs Marbel Ijeoma Duaka, in recognition of her dedication and service to the people of the state.

Mrs Duaka, who is from Anambra State, was among the 72 teachers and health workers who receive housing units at a ceremony inaugurated by Governor Zulum on Tuesday in the Mafa Local Government Area.

In a similar gesture in October 2022, the Governor rewarded another Igbo teacher, Mrs Obiageli Mazi from Abia State, with a housing unit at the teachers’ quarters in Maiduguri for her hard work and punctuality after 31 years of service in Borno State.

While presenting the keys, Governor Zulum also announced automatic employment for her son, Anthony, a Banking and Finance graduate, at the state-owned Kashim Ibrahim University.

Governor Zulum stated that Mrs Duaka has been working at the Primary Healthcare Centre in Mafa for more than two decades and never left the town, even during the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency.

“She has been working here for over 24 years and has never left Mafa for a single month. During the Boko Haram crisis, most people fled the town, but she stayed throughout the conflict despite being a non-indigene. She has treated most of my family members, including my mother,” the Governor said.

He further directed that the allocation of the house be changed from an institutional to a personal allocation. “The allocation letter should be issued in your name. Do not leave Mafa, even after you retire,” he remarked.

Addressing her son, he added: “Your son, Anthony, will be given automatic employment at the Kashim Ibrahim University, Maiduguri. His employment starts with immediate effect.”

Responding on behalf of her family, Mrs Marbel Ijeoma Duaka thanked Governor Zulum for appreciating her little contribution to the people of Mafa.

“Today is the happiest day for me because His Excellency has honoured me and appreciated what I have been doing in Mafa. He has been so good to me,” Mrs Duaka said.

“He provided me with a scholarship to study BSc in Health Education, today he has given my son a job and given me a house. I am truly grateful.”

Zulum Rewards Dedicated Igbo Health Worker with House, Automatic Employment for her Son

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CAN dismisses Christian genocide claims, says terrorist attacks have no religious pattern

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CAN dismisses Christian genocide claims, says terrorist attacks have no religious pattern

By: Zagazola Makama

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has dismissed recent claims by some foreign commentators alleging an ongoing “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, describing the assertions as misleading and not supported by facts on the ground.

The association’s reaction follows remarks by U.S. comedian and talk show host Bill Maher, who alleged that Christians were being systematically exterminated in Nigeria by Islamist extremists.

Maher claimed that over 100,000 Christians had been killed since 2009 and that more than 18,000 churches had been burnt in what he described as “a genocide attempt greater than what is going on in Gaza.”

Similarly, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz accused Nigerian officials of “ignoring and even facilitating” the mass killing of Christians by jihadist groups. Cruz said he had introduced a bill, the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act, to the U.S. Senate to sanction Nigerian officials allegedly complicit in such acts.

Also, Riley Moore, a U.S. Congressman from West Virginia, reportedly urged the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” and suspend arms sales to the country over alleged persecution of Christians.

Reacting to the allegations, the Director of National Issues and Social Welfare of CAN, Abimbola Ayuba, said the pattern of killings across Nigeria does not suggest a religious motive, as both Christians and Muslims have been victims of terrorism and banditry.

Ayuba said, “Empirical facts exist all over showing the spate of killings in Nigeria, but the pattern has not been religious. In some areas like Benue, it may appear as if Christians are being targeted, but the same insurgency has claimed several Muslims some even during early morning prayers.”

He described the situation as a national tragedy rather than a religious conflict, stressing that bullets from terrorists do not “look for a Christian or spare a Muslim.”

According to him, “Sometimes, our situation is being exploited by groups with foreign interests. They benefit from spreading misinformation abroad. Those foreign interests may have a right to express concern, but we must also report things as they truly are.”

Ayuba urged Nigerians to adopt an all-of-society approach to end insurgency rather than seeking external sympathy.

“Instead of running to America, why not use our own institutions like the Senate to seek redress? When they place Nigeria on a blacklist, all of us will suffer. But those who go abroad to look for sympathy know why they do that,” he said.

The Presidency had earlier dismissed similar claims of a religious genocide, reiterating that the ongoing insecurity in parts of the country is driven by terrorism, banditry, and criminality rather than faith-based conflict.

CAN dismisses Christian genocide claims, says terrorist attacks have no religious pattern

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IPCR, KAICIID, NIALS Set To Tackle Herdsmen-Farmer Clashes at Policy Review Meeting in Abuja

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IPCR, KAICIID, NIALS Set To Tackle Herdsmen-Farmer Clashes at Policy Review Meeting in Abuja

By: Michael Mike

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), in collaboration with King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue KAICIID and the Nigerian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), has joined forces to address Nigeria’s escalating tensions between farming and pastoralist communities.

At the First Quarter Policy Review Meeting themed “Livestock Policies in Nigeria: Implications for Peace, Security, and Reconciliation,” stakeholders highlighted the urgent need for reforms to address policy gaps driving communal violence.

The event which held on Tuesday at the IPCR Director-General’s Conference Room in Abuja, stakeholders gathered for a high-level dialogue led by the Director-General of the IPCR, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu.

Ochogwu set the tone by emphasising that livestock production, while a backbone of Nigeria’s rural economy, has become a trigger for recurring conflict, displacement, and national insecurity.

He said: “We are all witnesses to the devastating impact of these clashes,” stressing that: “From loss of lives to destruction of properties and disruption of food supply chains, the consequences are eroding national cohesion and fuelling organised crime.”

He noted that despite existing frameworks like the National Livestock Transformation Plan (2019–2028), the National Dairy Development Policy (2021), and anti-open grazing laws, implementation has remained inconsistent and, in many cases, polarising.

“Too many communities still view government efforts with scepticism. Policies that are not inclusive or culturally sensitive will continue to fall short of expectations,” Ochogwu warned.

He noted that: “Every insight shared here today has the potential to prevent conflict tomorrow.”

The meeting, which featured policymakers, religious leaders, civil society representatives, and researchers, served as a platform to review livestock governance policies and their intersection with peace and security outcomes.

Ochogwu underlined the indispensable role of the Network of Policymakers and Religious Leaders (NPMRL) as a forum for inclusive dialogue. He stressed the power of religious and traditional institutions to mediate conflicts and counter misinformation where government efforts may fall short.

He said: “Religious leaders are trusted voices in times of crisis. By meaningfully engaging them in livestock governance, we build trust, legitimacy, and ownership at the community level.”

He further called for a shift in how policies are monitored, not merely by economic metrics, but by how they enhance peace and human dignity.

“Behind every policy are real lives — the farmer feeding his family, the pastoralist protecting his herd, the woman whose livelihood is disrupted, and the child whose future is at stake.”

Since 2016, the IPCR-KAICIID partnership has fostered interfaith dialogue platforms like the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) and has hosted quarterly policy review meetings since 2021. Dr. Ochogwu noted that these engagements have proven the effectiveness of inclusive dialogue in resolving sensitive national issues.

The session also featured a lead paper by Dr. Andrew Kwasari and discussants from government ministries, academia, and research institutions. They examined alignment between livestock policies and mandates of key institutions, including Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), faith bodies, and civil society organisations.

“Peace-sensitive livestock governance is not optional it is a national imperative,”

“This gathering is not just a policy review. It is a moral and social obligation to ensure no Nigerian is left behind in our pursuit of peace.”Dr. Ochogwu concluded.

The Country Expert from KAICIID Dr. Joseph Atang revealed the urgent need to critically assess Nigeria’s livestock policy, particularly in terms of its sensitivity to existing conflicts. Without understanding whether the policy mitigates or aggravates tensions, meaningful recommendations cannot be made.

“So how conflict sensitive is the livestock policy in Nigeria? We would need to know that. Because if we don’t know what the policy is all about, and we don’t know whether it is conflict sensitive or not, we will not be able to give recommendations that are cogent and practicable and implementable.”

He acknowledged that the farmers-herders conflict is often a catalyst for broader tensions,sometimes framed through religious or ethnic lines making the policy not just an agricultural issue, but a peace and security concern.

“We know that what we call the farmers-hunters conflict is perhaps an indirect reason why we have the policy ,Sometimes, the conflict is executed on the platform of ethnicity, sometimes on the platform of religion.”

Atang stressed that while the Ministry of Livestock Development is the lead agency, the success of the livestock policy depends on all stakeholders including religious bodies, MDAs, and security agencies actively promoting, integrating, and supporting its goals.

“Although our eyes are all on the livestock ministry for implementation, we still have to do our own bit to make sure that it succeed

“All the MDAs, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies What are the religious organisations doing about this?”

Atang emphasized that all stakeholders religious groups, security agencies, and civil society must go beyond attending meetings and actively mainstream livestock policy into their respective programs and constituencies.

“We are supposed to mainstream this policy into our own programmes. What is CAN doing about this livestock policy? What is JNI doing about this livestock policy? How are we promoting it within our constituencies?”

The President at SCL Future Food Systems, Dr. Andrew Kwasari cautioned that livestock reform should not be viewed merely through an economic lens. Instead, it must be firmly rooted in Nigeria’s broader peace and stability strategy to address the root causes of conflict.

He said: “Livestock reform should not be pursued solely as an economic modernisation agenda, but as a cornerstone for Nigeria’s peace and stability strategy.”

He stressed the need for peace-sensitive monitoring and evaluation frameworks that go beyond economic metrics like productivity. These frameworks should also measure community perceptions, institutional collaboration, and actual conflict reduction.

“Monitoring frameworks must track not only productivity gains, but also reduction in violence and improvement in intercommunal relations.”

Kwasari emphasized the importance of listening to the communities most affected by livestock policies. Independent evaluations must amplify these voices to ensure inclusive and equitable policy outcomes.

“Commission independent evaluation of livestock policy implementation that prioritises the voices of affected communities, particularly marginalised groups.”

IPCR, KAICIID, NIALS Set To Tackle Herdsmen-Farmer Clashes at Policy Review Meeting in Abuja

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