21st July, 2017
The Nigeria Security and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP), an NGO, says that it has prevented more than 40 incidences that would have resulted to conflicts in Plateau State since 2014.
The Assistant Manager of the NGO, Mrs Priscilla Nkut, made the disclosure in Abuja on Friday.
She attributed the success of the NGO’s activities to dedication, the strength of its early warning response to potential conflicts and precautionary measures put in place to check further crises in the state.
“We have established Dialogue Committee Platforms in the state and seven others where we are working to help communities find alternative ways of managing conflicts.
“In Bokkos Local Government of Plateau alone, we have been able to avert 40 incidences that would have escalated to violence leading to needless destruction of lives and property.
“The NGO has contributed positively to the relative peace being experienced in the states we are working in,’’ she said.
Nkut also said that the NGO targeted unemployed youths by providing them with grants to support their initiatives to start up their businesses for self reliance.
The assistant general manager said the NGO had also brought together people and community-based organisations and furnish them with authentic information on how to prevent potential conflicts.
“However, in cases where violence occurred, we work to ensure that the impact on vulnerable groups like young girls, women, children, the aged and people with disabilities is reduced.
“For women who are victims of rape and sexual abuses, we provide them with safe places of abode and offer them socio-psycho, financial and healthcare support to help them re-integrate into the society.
“In the case of rape, which is a criminal offence, we follow up with the prosecution of the accused and if found guilty, awarded appropriate penalty,’’ she said.
Nkut commended the Office of the National Security Adviser and its initiative on de-radicalisation and counter-terrorism, National Human Rights Commission, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution and others for their support to the NGO.
“However, there is always room for the government to do more.’’
‘’NSRP has enjoyed good partnership with government agencies in attaining reasonable level of success in its activities.’’
NSRP’s initiatives are aimed at reducing violence in Nigeria and to provide support to stakeholders to avert and effectively manage conflicts.
The programmes of the NGO are funded by Department for International Development (DFID), UK and are being implemented in eight states of the federation considered prone to violence.
The states are: Yobe, Borno, Kano, Kaduna Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Plateau.