Deputy Country Director of Actionaid Nigeria, Suwaiba Dankabo. has decried the activities of thugs otherwise known as Daba in Kano State, describing the situation as worrisome.
She said all hands must be on deck to ensure that the state becomes free of radicalisation and violent behaviour, especially among the youth.
Dankabo raised the concern in Kano during a closeout and dissemination of System and Structure Strengthening Approach Against Radicalisation and Violent Extremism(SERVE III) project implemented in Kano and Kaduna states by the Dispute Resolution and Development Initiative (DRDI) with funding from the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF).
According to her, Actionaid through the SERVE III project created a platform that awakens youth consciousness and empowers them – reaching out to 17,526 direct beneficiaries consisting of 11,682 females and 5,844 males.
“The project has led to the establishment of 12 women safe spaces, mentoring women on leadership and Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE). 12 Community Action and Response Teams (CARTs) have been strengthened for better coordination of early warning capabilities, along with six Local Conflict Management Alliance (LOCMA).
“We facilitated the establishment of peace clubs across 48 schools, trained 120 youth on basic digital literacy skills, all of which are instrumental in fostering peace,” she said.
While appreciating the peace building initiatives of the NGO, representative from the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Mallam Adamu Lawan, expressed the state’s readiness to welcome any initiative geared towards engaging the youths and fostering peace in the state, noting that, peace is central to development.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, DRDI executive Director, Dr. Mustapha Yahaya, said the project was implemented in six local government areas (Tudun wada, Nasarawa, Gwale, Bichi, Gwarzo, Bebeji) with focus on 12 communities to foster social cohesion, community agency, equal access to opportunities and a sense of purpose.