By: Ibrahim Abdul
The Ambassador of the Republic of Australia to Nigeria, H.E. Peter Guschelbauer, called for international aid to support Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and enhance community resilience in the crisis-ridden region in Nigeria.
He made the called during the opening ceremony of 3 days forum for Remapping of conflicts in the Benue valley, mediation and interfaith dialogue which was held at the Grand Pela hotel Abuja on Tuesday.
The three days forum, was organized by the Foundation for Justice, Development and Peace (Markudi) in collaboration with Misereor and Development Partnership Services (DPS) Nigeria, alongside the Austrian Embassy in Abuja.
Its primary objective is to foster community resilience amid ongoing conflicts between pastoralists and farmers, in a bid to transform deep-seated rivalries into amicable neighborly relations.
In attendance were stakeholders from both Nasarawa and Benue states, whose partnership aimed to cultivate peaceful solutions for the troubled region, often described as the Plateau/Benue region due to their historical ties.
Once regarded as childhood friends with immense potential in agriculture and solid minerals, the two states now find themselves embroiled in accusations and hostility, with allegations that Nasarawa state harbors terrorist factions responsible for attacks on Benue farmers.
There is no gain in saying the fact that, the rapidly growing populations in both states have exacerbated tensions, leading to issues surrounding boundary demarcation.
As land availability for grazing diminishes, the Benue State government enacted legislation banning open grazing of livestock.
In contrast, Nasarawa State has not yet followed suit, resulting in intensified communal crises between farmers and herders residing along the shared borders.
The three-day forum brought together a diverse array of participants, including religious leaders, security agencies, farmers, herders, and civil society representatives, all working to assess the current security landscape along the state boundaries.
The objective is to develop actionable recommendations for government implementation, aimed at fostering sustainable peace and ensuring communities can coexist harmoniously.
Ambassador Guschelbauer commended the Nigerian government’s efforts to address the security challenges within the Benue Valley, stressing the necessity of community-level initiatives to support IDPs.
He stressed that without mutual understanding and collaboration among communities, achieving lasting peace will remain a significant challenge, even as he highlighted the importance of humanitarian assistance in addressing immediate needs such as shelter, food, and healthcare, coupled with long-term development initiatives that focus on building resilience within affected communities.
Speakers after speakers, including Muslim and Christian clerics, presented scriptural evidence condemning the killing of innocent lives and expressed their concern regarding the persistence of genocide in the Benue Valley.
Following the opening ceremony, participants engaged in group discussions to explore the causes and effects of the crisis between pastoralists and farmers.
They aimed to create a communiqué to share with government officials at all levels, believing that it will contribute to promoting peace and unity in the Benue Valley.
