*Advise on creating social media information platform in CDCs
By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
Borno State Government, development/humanitarian partners (NGOs), security agencies and community based organization’s (CBOs) have been urged to provide a comprehensive and detailed community members personal data register in every office of ward, village and district heads of Mafa Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno. State to enhance peaceful coexistence and unity.
The call was made by community,, religious, and women leaders as well as representatives of various ethnic, women, trade union and security agents at a one-day community dialogue forum for Reconstruction, Reintegration and Sustainable Peace and Resettlement from Mafa LGA of Borno State.
The community dialogue forum which was organized by Allamin Foundation and held at Hajja Manga Memorial Hall Maiduguri yesterday, also called for the creation of a community social media information platform with trained and experienced influencers to man the affairs of the platform which will serve as a dependable and reliable source of information for public consumption to. Strengthen capacity and will for reconciliation, reintegration and sustainable peace.
They argued that the personal or individual register should be used by the ward, village and district heads as well as security agencies and community development centers for the purpose of information or data collection of members of the community, both young and old, male or female, new arrivals or visitors to the community as well as registering of deaths and births to enable the community leaders and security agencies as well as government have knowledge of their subjects.
The community stakeholders added that the creation of social. media information platform for that will be used for the purpose records keeping or information data bank on residents or inhabitants of every community by way of making vital information about the people available and accessible to all and sundry about the people living in a particular community/domain for security and social purposes or services.
Stakeholders further suggested that government and relevant authorities should ensure houses and roads or streets in every settlement are numbered and named respectively, to facilitate accessibility, identification and contacts among others in the community.
They also observed that at many instances, most of the women and girls repentant insurgents returning to communities in various places to rejoin their families, relations and loved ones, have severally complained of stigmatisation against them by the people, making them feel unacceptable and disliked and their freedom and socialisation denied.
Others further identified marginalization or segregation and insults in the midst of people where, in schools, the repentant do experience against their children and girls especially, those going to primary school, attending gatherings or socialisation and even among those going to market places and hospitals for treatment.
Although it was disclosed that in many instances, some returnee repentant women have been arrested hiding and loading food and food items including soup in containers or plastics to carry to the bush for their husbands while some of the women while some of the returnee women and girls do fight community women and girls at the slightest argument or misunderstanding.
They suggested however, for government to call on people to forgive and accept them, hence there is the need for more concerted efforts and prayers for peace, unity, understanding in communities, pointing out that, hence living with them is now a most but they still have problems in living with others as some have returned back to the bush as they couldn’t bear or endure living with their relations again making their voluntary return, forgiveness and acceptance doubtful and suspicious.
It was also identified that still, some of the repentant and residents are traumatized and have the, fear of being re-attacked by the returnee insurgents, while lamenting lack of carrying the district and village heads along in decision making and implementation of projects or programmes in their community or area of jurisdiction.
They also observed that government activities, projects and programmes are being executed and implemented without the involvement of the people’s custodians, while calling for regular special prayers for relief, succour, reconciliation and reintegration, peace, progress and development.
