Testimonials from the 'Commitment to Peace and Dialogue Pact' recently signed on the 6th June, 2022 by youths and elders of Atyap, Hausa and Fulani communities in Atyap Chiefdom of Zango Kataf LGA of Kaduna-Nigeria.
Fulani Aldo’s, “The peace they have been enjoying for some time now, especially the freedom of grazing without harassment, crises or issues, I pray it continues”, he also thanked the initiators and the sponsors.
Atyap women leader expressed her gratitude, "we can now sleep peacefully without fear of being attacked in the night, and prays for everlasting peace.
Building on the local efforts of the previous year, the Commitment to Sustained Peace Dialogue through the Victor Abarshi initiative in Southern Kaduna - Nigeria. Our first objective was to bring all key stakeholders to a round table discussion. Follow up advocacy meetings were already ongoing to address issues which had lingered and disrupted the peace in Atyap community which dates back to the season during the relocation of the local market through 1990 – 1992 which created a major dispute across several dividing lines.
By February 9th, 2022 the three parties converged for an inter-dialogue meeting in Kafanchan, Kaduna which served as a neutral ground away from the home front. This gave the participants the opportunity to accept or debunk some of the accusations and stereotypes by each party at their previous individual focus groups sessions. All parties agreed that the conflict pointed back to three decades of lingering dispute since 1992.
The successes at this stage can be seen from a bottom – top approach to peacebuilding efforts. This has helped to gradually build the confidence and trust in the processes and partners. Furthermore, to create a platform where beneficiaries would eventually take ownership of the process towards championing pathways to social cohesion.
It is notable to see from inception of the meetings the Atyap community members, representative from both the Fulani and Hausa community under one roof committing to collaborate to seek constructive ways to address cross-cutting concerns for security and peace. The highpoint from the joint advocacy sessions was during the signing of the “Commitment to Sustained Peace Dialogue” which took place at the palace of the Agwam Atyap. This one-day multi stakeholder meeting with the Zango Kataf community had in attendance representative from the Atyap, Hausa and Fulani communities. The women were not left out as they were seen and heard representing their individual communities and natural groups. The representative of the Atyap paramount ruler and the Vice Chairman of Zangon Kataf LGA gave their good will speech.