PROF. Daniel Gwary of the University of Maiduguri has called on stakeholders to establish and strengthen conflict mediation and peace building mechanisms to ensure lasting peace in the country.

Speaking at a Summit on Conflict Resolution organised by The Nation Newspaper in collaboration with TVC Communications, Gwary stressed the need to address the recurrent issues of unrest in most parts of the country.

The Don identified blockage of transhumance routes, stereotyped media narration, among others as some of the reasons behind the incessant clashes and called on government and other stakeholders to adopt appropriate mechanisms to ensure peace in the country.

In his opening address, Mr Dele Alake, Vice President TVC Communications and co-host of the event commended the country’s resilience in surmounting the challenges of conflicts.

“Nigeria is one of the luckiest nations in the world; in spite of its fair share of challenge and each time it is pushed to the precipice, it manages to trudge on.

“Why then can we not manage further and live in harmony as a nation?,’’ Alake queried.

For his part, a representative of the Miyetti Allah Group called on the media to always ensure balanced and professional reportage of events.

“Fulani people have been unfairly branded as terrorist.

“The group has called on state governors, whose duty it is to provide arable grazing land for pastoralists to uphold their duties and not wait on the federal government to cater to such needs.

A farmer and participant at the summit, Mr Rotimi Williams, urged Nigerians to explore the option of peace as a means of co-existence between the farmers and the herdsmen.

Wale said Fulani men and women working on his farm in Tunga L.G.A of Nassarawa State had helped to bolster relations between his farmers and the Fulani Community as well as improved output on his farm.

The event had in attendance Senator Shehu Sani, the former EFCC boss Nuhu Ribadu, government officials, journalists, farmers, representatives of Miyetti Allah Group and members of the public.

–NAN

– Oct. 9, 2018 @ 15:55 GMT |