Deputy Country Director, Equal Access International, Gad Shamaki has said active participation and involvement of women in tackling security issues in rural communities will address the prolong security challenges in Nigeria.
He noted that equipping women and youths with requisite information about early warning will reduced the persistent killings in rural communities of Plateau, Benue, Kaduna and Kano states.
Shamaki disclosed this on Thursday during a two day Training on leadership, empowerment and advocacy for women, in Barkin-Ladi, Jos South and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau North, held in Jos, Plateau State.
He noted that the objective of the programme was to enhance the capacities of women towards effective participation and leadership in civilian security in targeted communities of Plateau State.
“Parts of our effort is to increase the Participation of women in four states of Kano, Kaduna, Plateau and Benue in civilian security. We are encouraging people to take owner of their security and to support them in early warning and to take appropriate steps to prevent the breakdown of law and order.
“Parts of the project is to work with women, youths, security agencies, religious and community leaders but our focus is more on women and youths because they suffer more when there is violence.”
He said the same training has taken place in Kaduna, Kano and now in Plateau while that of Benue will come up at a later date.
Gad said it is obvious that government cannot meet the security demands of Nigerian citizens, saying active involvement of women and youths at the local level will stem the tides of Insecurity.
Former Minister, of Water Resources, Hon. Sarah Ochekpe encouraged women to rise against issues of Insecurity, rape and violence against women.
She noted that women play a key role in nation building and urged women at the community level to contribute towards correcting the current challenges in the nation.
Mrs. Ochekpe lamented how children are wallowing at various IDPs camps because their parents were brutally killed in a violent attack.
Director General, Plateau State Building Agency, Joseph Lengman represented by Godwin Okoko said involving women in peace and security in various communities will reduce the wave of Insecurity in the country.
He noted that if women were involved in solving security problems in the past, the security challenges the country is grappling with wouldn’t have been this much.
Representative of Women Peace and Security Network, Ladi Madaki urged women to contribute their quota in building peace and security in their communities.
The representative of the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Operation Rainbow and women for women attended the programme.
