By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
Borno State stakeholders at a one-day stakeholders dialogue in transitional Justice workshop, have suggested that for the purpose of effective and efficient implementation of transitional Justice, authorities concerned at all levels should endeavour to adopt a proper and improved measure and machinery for positive welfare and care of victims of Boko Haram insurgency as government and NGOs do for the perpetrators who voluntarily surrendered after committing the crime or offence
The stakeholders also called for proper and effective management of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and provision of basic facilities and amenities at the IDP camps.
The workshop which was jointly organized by Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development (ALFOPED and UK Foreign Communication and Development Office in Nigeria with a theme, “From Insurgency to Stability: Towards an Agenda for Community-Level Transitional Justice in Borno State” was held at Women Development Center Maiduguri on Saturday.
The Project Manager, Mr. Samuel Orahii said the workshop was aimed at mobilizing stakeholders in Borno State to develop transitional Justice and reconciliation policy recommendations in north east Nigeria”, under the Conflict, Stability and Security Food (CSSF) in the Lake Chad Basin (LCB).
He added that the project is being implemented in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), Bama, Dikwa and Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, while participants were drawn from the media and other stakeholders from the security and government who are directly involved and concerned with the counter insurgency .
They also recommended proper care of the IDPs who are exposed to severe hunger, starvation and torture as part of the transitional justice that they deserve as citizens of the country, similar to the proper treatment and care given to the repentant Boko Haram insurgents who voluntarily surrendered as perpetrators of the insurgency.
The stakeholders further suggested that proper and adequate healthcare treatment, provision of adequate food and non food items from the government and NGOs to cushion their hardships and sufferings in detentions and IDPs Camps.
They noted that as offenders and criminals, the repentant are treated well and the victims are exposed to poor and bad treatment, while calling on government and security agencies to hasten the trial of the detainees and allow them to reunite with their families and lived ones as the repentant reunite with their families despite their offences and crime at the detriment of the victims.
It was also suggested that the victims of the conflict should be made to have access to their families and loved ones and treated with dignity not humiliated and raped in camps and detentions centres, stressing that, individuals and organizations on humanitarian support do neglect the victims instead of assisting and supporting them.
The stakeholders were also of the opinion that community, members and leaders are not involved or carried along in the type of transitional justice being applied on them, while urging for the incorporation of key components recommendations and suggestions of the community members, leaders and media in the process in order to ensure positive transitional justice system for the people in the promotion of justice and unity.
They stressed that forgiveness, reconciliation and dialogue among aggrieved parties should be adopted for peace and and progress of the society in promoting human rights and justice as citizens of the country while the media should embark on Sensitization and campaigns on transitional justice .
It was also suggested that the military and other security agents should endeavour to be proactive to practical issues and accommodate justice among the victims of conflict or insurgency without any sentiment or bias.
The stakeholders further recommended that government should disabuse the mindset of the perpetrators and victims on religious sentiments and promote unity and peace as the best option and way for peace and meaningful development and sustainability.
Government, NGOs as well as wealthy individuals and organizations were also suggested be mobilized and encouraged to contribute their quota by the management of the IDPs camps and detentions, while proper and effective machinery should be out in place for proper communication, intelligence and feedback.
The stakeholders suggested that on the support of the military and stakeholders operate effectively, while the media should also shun hate speech or fake news which ignite tension and confusion that could aggravate conflict.
