2027: Youths Hold Key to Nigeria’s Peace, Development — IPCR

By: Michael Mike

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has identified Nigerian youths as critical to determining whether the 2027 general elections will strengthen national cohesion or deepen the country’s fault lines, urging them to transform their growing influence into a force for peace and development.

The IPCR Director-General, Dr Joseph Ochogwu, made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the opening of a two-day capacity-building programme for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, SIWES participants, interns and volunteers.

The training, organised under the Renewed Hope Agenda for Young Peacebuilders, seeks to prepare young Nigerians to identify early warning signs of conflict, prevent violence, mediate disputes and promote dialogue within their communities and across social and political divides.

Ochogwu said Nigeria could not build lasting peace or achieve sustainable development without deliberately engaging its young population as active participants in peacebuilding.

He said the traditional perception of youths as mere beneficiaries of peace initiatives must change, stressing that they should instead be regarded as partners, leaders and drivers of efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts.

“Peace is not simply the absence of war. Peace is the presence of justice. Peace is the presence of dialogue. Peace is respect for human dignity,” he said.

The IPCR chief said the ability of Nigerians to disagree over political, ethnic, religious and social issues without turning their differences into violence would be crucial to the country’s democratic future.

He urged the young participants to take the lessons from the training into their communities, workplaces, schools, homes and online platforms.

Ochogwu particularly highlighted the power of social media, warning that misinformation, rumours and hate speech could rapidly transform isolated grievances into wider conflicts.

“When you hear a rumour capable of provoking violence, do not become part of its distribution. Verify,” he said.

He urged young Nigerians to use their digital platforms to challenge false information, promote tolerance and encourage constructive engagement among citizens.

According to him, Nigeria’s diversity should be treated as an asset rather than a trigger for division.

He also stressed that peace and economic prosperity were inseparable, noting that insecurity destroys businesses, discourages investment and undermines development.

“There can be no sustainable development where communities live in constant fear. There can be no meaningful investment where violence destroys businesses and infrastructure,” he said.

The Peace and Development Adviser, United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, Ms Grace Kpohazounde, said young Nigerians must be prepared to confront exclusion and injustice, which she identified as potential drivers of conflict.

She encouraged the participants to speak up when they encounter situations capable of breeding resentment and instability.

Kpohazounde said peacebuilding should not be approached primarily as a source of income but as a sustained commitment to society.

She disclosed that the United Nations was collaborating with Nigerian institutions, including the IPCR, at national and sub-national levels to strengthen peacebuilding mechanisms.

She urged the youths to remain particularly vigilant as political activities intensify towards the 2027 elections, warning that young people could be targeted for manipulation by actors seeking to exploit existing grievances.

Also, the Senior Conflict Adviser, British High Commission, Dr David Rinnert, urged young peacebuilders to avoid impulsive interventions in conflict situations.

He said effective peacebuilding required a deep understanding of the issues and stakeholders involved, a clearly communicated vision and consistent implementation.

“There’s no silver bullet. For me, it’s really those three things: understand deeply, create and communicate a clear vision, deliver consistently, work with others,” Rinnert said.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, represented by Amb. Muyiwa Aiyedun, said peacebuilding was fundamental to national unity and economic growth.

He urged young Nigerians to recognise the responsibility that came with their influence and contribute actively to preventing violence and strengthening social cohesion.

The training is part of IPCR’s efforts to develop a new generation of peacebuilders capable of promoting conflict prevention, mediation, dialogue, tolerance and responsible civic engagement.

With youths constituting a significant force in Nigeria’s political and digital spaces, the institute’s intervention places them at the centre of efforts to secure a peaceful electoral environment ahead of the 2027 polls.

2027: Youths Hold Key to Nigeria’s Peace, Development — IPCR

Group Defends Sheriff, Says Boko Haram Allegations Unproven

…Coalition backs Tinubu’s choice of former Borno governor as North-East campaign coordinator, alleges political motive behind renewed attacks

By: Michael Mike

The Grassroots Coalition for Change (GCC) has thrown its weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of former Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) North-East Zonal Campaign Coordinator for the 2027 presidential election, describing the decision as a strategic move aimed at strengthening the party’s grassroots mobilisation in the region.

The coalition, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Bello Johnson, also rejected renewed allegations linking Sheriff to the Boko Haram insurgency, describing them as unsubstantiated and politically motivated.

The GCC said Sheriff’s extensive political experience, knowledge of the North-East and relationships with political stakeholders across the region made him well positioned to coordinate the APC’s campaign in the six-states in the zone.

It, however, accused unnamed political interests of launching a fresh media campaign against the former governor immediately after his appointment, arguing that the timing raised questions about the motive behind the attacks.

“Why did these allegations not become an issue then?” the coalition asked, noting that Sheriff had previously occupied senior positions in Nigerian politics, including national chairman of major political parties.

The group alleged that an individual from Katsina State had sustained attacks against Sheriff for about 15 years without producing what it described as credible evidence to substantiate the allegations.

According to the GCC, the renewed campaign against the former Borno governor appeared designed to damage his reputation and weaken his capacity to mobilise political support for President Tinubu in the North-East ahead of the 2027 election.

The coalition specifically rejected attempts to portray Sheriff as the originator of Boko Haram.

“Senator Ali Modu Sheriff is not the originator of Boko Haram. That allegation has never been established,” the group said, urging Nigerians not to treat unproven allegations as established facts.

The controversy surrounding Sheriff has persisted for years, particularly because of the Boko Haram insurgency that erupted into a major security crisis in Borno and other parts of the North-East. However, the GCC maintained that political allegations should not be presented as established findings without credible evidence.

The coalition said Sheriff’s political record, rather than the renewed accusations, should be the focus of attention as he takes on the responsibility of coordinating the APC’s presidential campaign in the region.

Sheriff, who served as Borno governor from 2003 to 2011, has also occupied prominent positions in national party politics, including leadership roles in the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The GCC argued that his experience across different political platforms had exposed him to party administration, electoral strategy, grassroots mobilisation and negotiations among diverse political interests.

It said these attributes would be particularly important in the North-East, where effective political mobilisation requires engagement with elected officials, party structures, traditional institutions, youth and women’s groups and community stakeholders.

The coalition described President Tinubu’s decision to appoint experienced political figures to campaign leadership positions as evidence of a deliberate effort to build campaign structures beyond Abuja.

It said the North-East needed a coordinator with an understanding of the region’s political and social dynamics rather than an individual whose influence was limited to the Federal Capital Territory.

The GCC therefore called on APC members in the six North-East states to rally behind Sheriff and avoid allowing the controversy surrounding him to distract from the party’s campaign preparations.

It also urged Sheriff’s supporters not to respond to the attacks with counter-attacks, arguing that the best response would be effective grassroots mobilisation and a campaign centred on the policies and performance of the Tinubu administration.

“The people of the North-East are capable of deciding who is best positioned to coordinate their political mobilisation,” the coalition said, rejecting what it described as attempts by individuals outside the zone to dictate the region’s political affairs.

The group said the 2027 election should ultimately be decided by voters on the basis of competing political programmes and visions for Nigeria rather than personal attacks and allegations that have not been established.

The GCC reaffirmed its support for Tinubu’s decision and expressed confidence that Sheriff would use his political experience and network to deliver substantial support for the President across the North-East.

It maintained that the former governor’s immediate task was clear: to organise the APC’s political machinery across the region and mobilise support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The coalition consequently urged APC stakeholders to close ranks and focus on the campaign, saying internal disagreements should not undermine the party’s preparations for the forthcoming election.

Group Defends Sheriff, Says Boko Haram Allegations Unproven

Troops foil attack on Rim community, three killed in Gwarim, Plateau

By: Zagazola Makama

Nigerian troops have foiled an attack on Rim community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, while three residents were reportedly killed in a separate incident at nearby Gwarim community.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 25, when troops deployed in the area responded to an attack on Rim community at about 6:08 p.m.

The troops engaged the attackers and successfully repelled the assault without any casualty among the personnel or members of the community.

However, at about 6:46 p.m., the troops responded to another report of gunfire at Gwarim community, also in Riyom LGA.

On arrival at the location, the troops discovered the bodies of three residents who had been killed while reportedly keeping watch in the bush outside the community.

The corpses of the victims were recovered and subsequently handed over to members of the community for further necessary action.

The troops have since intensified patrols and are dominating the area in an effort to locate and apprehend the perpetrators.

The latest incidents come amid heightened security concerns in parts of Plateau State, particularly communities around Riyom and neighbouring areas.

Troops foil attack on Rim community, three killed in Gwarim, Plateau