Zamfara: CNG lauds Shinkafi LGA over community-based peace approach

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) an NGO has commended Shinkafi local government area of Zamfara for adopting community-based approach.

The Coalition’s Chairman in the state, Mr Hussaini Hassan gave the commendation while briefing newsmen in Gusau.

According to him, the CNG firmly believes that banditry is a local problem that requires local solutions.

“These local solutions can be achieved through a community-based peace approach based on inter-ethnic dialogue and consultations between all stakeholders.

“Therefore, we are calling on the local communities in Zamfara and other states in North West to embrace the community-based peace and reconciliation initiative as another alternative approach to peace and security.

“Local communities should drive this approach based on mutual consent and respect for one another.”, Hassan added.

He noted that nearly two decades that Zamfara has been experiencing insecurity, residents are at high risk of insecurity due to increasing banditry activities across the state.

He said the residents continue to lose their means of livelihood on daily basis, access to farmlands are becoming almost impossible.

“Thousands of people particularly in the rural communities are being killed and displaced, children become orphans, while women become widows and street beggars.

“As we addressed this conference, some major roads and markets across the state remained closed, leading to an exponential increase in poverty among the people.

“As banditry persist on daily basis is forcing businesses to close or relocate, leading to unemployment”, he lamented.

According to him, education is suffering greatly, as students from primary and post primary schools are being abducted indiscriminately.

“Substantial numbers of schools, particularly in rural communities, were either deserted or turned into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps”, he explained.