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US Spends $15 Million; Trained Over 46,000 in Dispute Resolution for Northern and Middle-Belt Region

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US Spends $15 Million; Trained Over 46,000 in Dispute Resolution for Northern and Middle-Belt Region

By: Michael Mike

The United States and Nigeria are working together to address and mitigate the drivers of conflict in northern and middle-belt Nigeria, including ethnic, regional, and sectarian tensions across communities, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the US Embassy in Nigeria.

The statement read that: “Over the past five years, the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has invested $15 million in the Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) programme. This initiative has trained more than 46,000 community members, including traditional leaders, women, men, and youth, in six states – Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, and Plateau – on skills such as dispute resolution, early warning and early response, reconciliation efforts, and prevention of violent extremism.

The statement further added that: “The CIPP programme has been helped mitigate violent conflict in at-risk communities and engaged women and youth in peace processes. A randomized control trial, which compared how the activity worked in its target communities with nearby communities that did not include any interventions, showed that despite the overall increase in violence in Plateau, Benue, and other states, violent conflict was lower in communities where USAID worked. For instance, after four years of implementation, the study showed that only 29 percent of CIPP treatment communities experienced violent incidents, compared to 55 percent in control communities – a difference of 26 percent.

The USAID Mission Director, Melissa Jones at a ceremony, said: “The CIPP activity has shown that a timely investment in peace can yield remarkable dividends,” adding that “Individuals trained in conflict mediation skills across Nigeria’s Middle Belt helped resolve hundreds of disputes before they escalated further.”

The statement revealed that as part of its closeout plan, USAID will transfer some of CIPP’s community structures, such as Conflict Mitigation Regional Councils and Women Peace Councils, to its new Peace Action for Rapid and Transformative Nigerian Early Response activity. This will ensure continuity and sustained progress in our shared mission to promote peace and security in the northern and middle-belt regions.

US Spends $15 Million; Trained Over 46,000 in Dispute Resolution for Northern and Middle-Belt Region

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DIGITAL RIGHTS: EU, ASF FRANCE SUPPORT FIGHT AGAINST CYBERBULLING IN NIGERIA

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DIGITAL RIGHTS: EU, ASF FRANCE SUPPORT FIGHT AGAINST CYBERBULLING IN NIGERIA

By: Michael Mike

Avocats Sans Frontieres (ASF) France with the support from the European Union (EU) in conjunction with the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), through it e- RIGHTS Protect has called for more strength to fight against cyberbulling and digital rights violation in Nigeria.

This was made known at the grand finale of the national inter-school digital rights competition organized by ASF under it E-RIGHTS platform last Tuesday in Abuja.
After a thorough engagement by various schools across the country, four schools from different States and zone were qualified to the final, namely Kano State, Lagos, Imo and FCT.

In the keenly contested competition, the Sonmori Senior Comprehensive High School, Ifako Ijaiye, Lagos State emerged as the winner, followed by FCT, Imo and Kano respectfully. The winner takes home the sum of one million Naira with support also from the eRights project to empower what they are doing in terms of digital literacy.

ASF France, Nigeria County Director, Angela Uwandu Uzoma, explained that, the competitions is more than celebration of talents, but celebration of courage, consciousness and commitment. She said, the occasion is not just to shaping conversation of the students, but to shaping their future.
She further said “The eRights project aims at promoting digital rights, not just for the adults, but also for the children, ensuring that the children are not left behind in this conversation. So children are themselves today participating in putting out empowering videos, messaging to discourage cyberbullying, to say no to cyberbullying because of the attendant effects and the harms that it can cause”

“The Cybercrimes Act, which was recently revised, amended particularly with Section 24, which was amended in 2024, to ensure that the government addresses some of these issues
“The government needs to do more. And we’re seeing that this Act, which ordinarily should protect citizens, to empower them to create a safe space for engagement, ensure that people are able to express themselves freely as guaranteed by the Constitution, including children” she added.

Also, the EU representative at the event, Program Manager, CSO, Human Rights and Youth, Mrs. Wynyfred Achu-Egbuson, believed that, the competition will bring to the understanding of Yong people that they have a responsibility towards not only protecting their rights but also protect the rights of other people who use the digital space.
She further said, the issues surrounding digital rights in Nigeria and other developed countries of the West is dynamic. Therefore, the issues of legislations and regulation towards digital rights is developing, the situation is dynamic and ever changing

DIGITAL RIGHTS: EU, ASF FRANCE SUPPORT FIGHT AGAINST CYBERBULLING IN NIGERIA

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One killed, several injured in farmers-herders clash in Niger

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One killed, several injured in farmers-herders clash in Niger

By: Zagazola Makama

At least one person killed and several others injured following a clash between Fulani herders and Gwari farmers in Kpowi village, Fuka District, Munya Local Government Area.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the incident, which occurred on June 2 at about 4:30 p.m., was reportedly triggered by a dispute over alleged farm trespass and destruction of crops.

The altercation led to violent confrontations between members of the Fulani and Gwari communities.

Security sources confirmed that six Fulani residents identified as Ahmadu Bature, Dauda Bello, Haruna Umaru, Shuaibu Bature, Bature Bello, and Safiya Auta sustained various degrees of injuries.

Similarly, four Gwari individuals Yusuf Pada, Pius Pada, Dantala Yusuf, and Joshua Mai’anguwa were also injured during the clash.

All the victims were evacuated to the General Hospital in Kaffin-Koro for medical attention. However, Ahmadu Bature was confirmed dead on admission.

The situation has been brought under control following swift intervention by operatives, and leaders of both communities have been invited for a peace dialogue.

One killed, several injured in farmers-herders clash in Niger

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VP Shettima Arrives Abuja Airport En Route Mokwa, Niger State

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VP Shettima Arrives Abuja Airport En Route Mokwa, Niger State

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, en route to Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State for an on-the-spot assessment of the flooding that has affected the area.

The Vice President’s visit is aimed at conducting a firsthand evaluation of the flood damage and delivering President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s condolence messages and assurances to families affected by the natural disaster.

Earlier, President Tinubu had issued a statement expressing deep concern over the severe flooding, which has resulted in tragic loss of lives and displacement of families. The President extended heartfelt condolences to affected families and the people of Niger State.

In his statement, President Tinubu announced the immediate activation of the National Emergency Response Centre and confirmed that he had been briefed by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on the scale of the disaster. He assured that search-and-rescue operations are ongoing, with all relevant federal agencies mobilised to support the state government’s efforts.

VP Shettima Arrives Abuja Airport En Route Mokwa, Niger State

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