Media reports helped to mitigate conflicts in North-East — NGO

Journalists and their media reports on farmer/herder clashes in the northeast region were one of the major reasons the clashes have been reduced to the barest minimum.

This was the position of Search For Common Ground (SFCG) Nigeria, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that had over the years trained Journalists in Adamawa and Taraba states on conflict reporting.

The position was made known at a one-day workshop in Jalingo, yesterday, organised by SFCG during experience sharing season by those who have written news and commentaries on the Farmer/ herder clashes in Adamawa and Taraba states.

The Workshop tagged: Contributing to the Mitigation of conflict over natural resources between farmer and herder communities in Adamawa and Taraba states, COMITAS.

Key note speaker at the event a veteran journalist, Dr. Jeji Williams said the media reportage on the farmer- herder clashes in the northeast region was a major reason why many families are back to their homes and farms.

Williams who is the present Chief of Staff to the Taraba State Government urged media practitioner to continue to apply the knowledge acquired from trainings to further improve peaceful coexistence between waring communities, farmers herder clashes and other crisis .

Noting that media practitioners are relevant stakeholders in ensuring peaceful co-existence in society.

The farmer-herder clashes over the years in Nigeria have been a source of concern, particularly in the North Central, North Eastern, and North Western axis of the country.

According to reports, these conflicts are triggered by competition over natural resources due to demographic growth, expansion of human settlements, privatization of land, year-round farming practices, environmental degradation, and climate change among other reasons.

COMITAS project manager, Gambo Wada, explained that the purpose of the experience sharing is to get the Journalists unveiled their challenges while covering these crisis and proffer solutions on how to peaceful coexistence among waring communities through reportage.

He explained that the project which is funded by the European Union and is being implemented by Search For Common Ground , Mercy Corps and IOM to build socio cohesion by using existing media practitioners from Phase 1 and also partnering with all Journalists to achieve their goal of bridging peace.

Mr Victor Baba Okpanachi the Media Coordinator has also called on the media practitioner to intensify their media coverage and create more awareness on COMITAS even as the project is rounding up .

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