Kaduna crisis: committee calls for citizens’ engagement at grassroots

The National Stakeholders Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution has called for more citizen engagement at the grassroots level ahead of the 2019 general elections for better understanding of communities.

The committee, which comprises of mainly the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and other security agencies, made the call in the wake of the recent Kaduna violence which claimed some lives.

The Director General of the NOA, Garba Abari, commended Kaduna state government and security agencies for restoring normalcy in the state but called for sensitization and engagement of citizens at the grassroots, whom he described as more vulnerable to violence.

“The committee commends the effort of security agencies in dousing the tension in the state. However, as the 2019 elections is approaching, the NOA, government and other security agencies will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that citizens are sensitized on the need to desist from money and violent politicking.

“We have observed that most crises are post-election violence which is why the committee is putting everything in place to avoid such occurrence.

“Through the Local Government Assembly, the agency is engaging traditional and religious rulers, Civil Society Organizations and youths at the grassroots on building peace and resolving disagreements,” Abari added