Insecurity causing devastating effect on Zamfara women, children – Commissioner

Zamfara State Commissioner for Women, Children and Social Development Affairs, Dr. Nafisa Muhammad Maradun has said that the security challenges facing the state are having devastating effects on the people, especially women and children.

The Commissioner stated that to safeguard lives and properties of the people, the State Government established the Community Protection Guards, CPG, and SecurityTrust Fund, STF.

Maradun said this during the Final Interstate Forum on the Protection of Our Communities Initiative (POC), titled “Putting Words to Action – Sustainability and Future Directions 2024”.

This was contained in a statement she personally issued to newsmen in Gusau, the State capital on Friday.

She assured that Zamfara State Government was fully committed to sustaining peace-building efforts through the POC Initiatives.

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“I extend my deepest gratitude to the Neem Foundation, KARUNA CENTER for Peacebuilding, and the collaborating local Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), Voluntary Aid Initiative, Zamfara State, for their dedication and unwavering support.

“The Protecting Our Community Initiative (POCI) Project has been a beacon of hope for Zamfara State, especially in these challenging times, through frequent dialogues, Early Warning and Early Response Mechanisms, radio programs, among others,” she said.

Maradun further pointed out that the POC project had amplified the voices of women and youth, empowering them to make their communities safer.

“The focus on those affected by the farmer-herder crises has been particularly impactful, bringing much-needed attention and solutions to this pressing issue.

“We recognize the importance of these initiatives in creating a peaceful and secure environment for all our citizens, and we pledge our continued support and collaboration,” she added.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Benue State, Hon. Aondowase Kunde, said that the ongoing violent conflict that had led to the influx of Internally Displaced Persons in the State had posed a challenge to the ministry and the government at large.

He commended the collaborating partners and stakeholders on the POC project for strengthening peaceful coexistence among communities.

Speaking, the Executive Director of the Voluntary Aid Initiative (VAI), a Zamfara-based CSO, Alhaji Musa Umar, said the POC project aimed at exploring new ways of resolving conflict by building on women’s and youth’s knowledge to increase civilian security through Early Warning and Early Response, (EWER).