…Decries rise in kidnapping
By Gabriel Udeh,, Kaduna
Participants at the Interfaith Mediation Center (IMC) Monthly Forum for Media practitioners on Peace Journalism in kaduna have decried the increased in kidnapping menace in the month of January 2021, saying this has led to massive migration of affected communities within the period to other part of the country.
The participants also restated the position of Prof. Wale Soyinka, and other patriotic Nigerians on the need for abolition of open grazing of cattles for ranching, adding that it’s out of fashion and absolutely becoming impossible to continue with grazing of cattles from North to the South in the 21century.
In a communiqué issued and made available to newsmen in Kaduna Saturday, by the Co- Directors of the Center, Imam Nuraini Ashafa and Pastor John Wuya, participants further observed that kidnaping has led to an increased in the number of Internally Displaced Persons IDPs in the country.
They hailed the effort of a Kaduna state based Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi for taking the bold step to visit herders in their various communities to preach peaceful co-existence and appealed to other stakeholders in the country to emulate his giant stride.
The Participants, comprising district heads, also noted that traditional rulers should be more involved in peace building, as they have more command on their subjects in their respective domain.
They call on the leaders of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, especially Kaduna state council to support issues that has to do with peaceful co-existence in the state and also call on the council to take the lead in promoting peaceful co-existence in the state in particular and the country as a whole.
Participants noted that, lack of job opportunity in the country is not a yard stick for any citizen to indulge in crime activities, pointing out that, instead people should have a mind set on genuine grinner posture so that they can be self reliant.
According to them, as World Interfaith Harmony Week which is been celebrated in every first of February
They appealed to Nigerians to shun any sentiment on government’s appointments, especially on security issues.
They lamented over adoption of quick notice by some communities in the country, saying that the issue can lead to instability in the country.
