Centre for Peace Advancement and Socio-Economic Development (CPAED) has expressed worry over what it described as increasing use of “dangerous speeches” among residents of Kaduna communities.
According to the centre, if not checked, such dangerous speeches could snowball into a crisis situation. It stressed the need to prevent and mitigate violent conflicts and extremism in the state and country in general.
The Coordinator of CPAED, Mrs. Obiora Jane, said to address such concerns, CPAED had joined with Beyond Conflict and Peace Initiative Network to celebrate the International Day of People Living Together in Peace through its campaign against the use of dangerous speeches and intolerance in communities.
She said interactions between Christians and Muslims have been taking place in Kaduna with residence willing to work together even though conflict and violence continue to take place regularly.
“To counter the violence, we must challenge the use of dangerous speeches in our communities. We must change the narrative and re-humanise each other by recognising what we share in common and many other experiences we share as human beings,” she said.
The group further called on governments, Civil Society Organisations, media, religious and traditional leaders, as well as other groups to join their effort to counter dangerous speeches and promote social cohesion, love and peace.