WEP ORGANISES INTERFAITH DIALOGUE ON PREVENTING VIOLENCE EXTREMISM IN BENUE COMMUNITIES

Over the years, there have been increased violent conflicts ranging from herdsmen & farmers clashes to kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, communal and inter-religious clashes with thousands of vulnerable population members killed and displaced without means of survival. These rampant acts of violence extremism and terrorism have affected mostly women, children, the aged and persons with special needs. The absence of peace resulting from these crises has caused huge imbalances in access to social, cultural, political, economic and development opportunities in several communities within Benue State.

In a bid to curb violent conflicts, build safer communities and prevent the spread of violent extremism, Women Environmental Programme (WEP) under her Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) funded PVE intervention in Benue state organized Interfaith Dialogues on Peace and PVE across six (6) Local Government Areas of Benue state. These discussions featuring religious heads and believers from all faith were held in Ado, Agatu, Buruku, Guma, Kwande and Logo LGAs.

The purpose of these meetings was to identify causes of inter-religious conflicts and enlighten participants on the need to co-exist and unite in tackling violence in their communities. At the end of the dialogue sessions, viable support structures were built across religious lines to strengthen and solidify peace in the communities.