According to Global Rights, an international human rights organization, the North Western region of Nigeria has experienced a significant increase in mass atrocities over the past decade compared to other regions in the country.
Speaking at the North West Regional Conference on Women Peace and Security in Abuja, the Programme Manager of Global Rights, Edosa Oviawe, highlighted this trend.
The conference, themed ‘Promoting Best Practices for Inclusive Security and Peacebuilding Processes in North West Nigeria,’ aimed to address the rise in mass atrocities in the region.
Oviawe mentioned that in the last 10 years, incidents of mass atrocities in the North West have escalated, shifting the region from the bottom to the top in the rankings.
He emphasized the urgent need for community involvement in enhancing security measures, capacity building, and fostering collaboration within the region to combat issues like banditry.
Global Rights’ Executive Director, Abiodun Baiyewu, underscored the exclusion of women from peacebuilding efforts despite being major victims of the crisis.
Women and children bear the brunt of insecurity in Nigeria, making their inclusion in peacebuilding processes crucial for sustainable solutions.
During the conference, Alhaji Sani Umar, representing the Sultan of Sokoto, praised the initiative’s focus on training women in decision-making and well-being in the North Western states.
He commended the efforts of funders such as the British High Commission, Global Rights, and the Kukah Centre in empowering women to have a stronger voice in decision-making processes.