IPCR, USAID advocate early response to mitigate clashes in Nasarawa

Some international organisations in Nigeria have appealed to security agencies to always respond to early warnings and act promptly to reduce escalation of herders, farmers and communal clashes across the nation.

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), in collaboration with Mercy Corps Nigeria (MCN), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) made the suggestion as part of peace efforts.

The Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr Joseph Ochogwu, while addressing participants at the workshop in Lafia, emphasised the need for leaders to adopt dialogue, peace-building and community engagement at all times as remedies for resolving conflict and promoting peaceful coexistence among the people in Nigeria.

The Director-General, who was represented by the Coordinator, Mr. Steve Agbo, appealed to conflict response enforcement agencies to always respond to early warnings and act promptly as part of steps towards mitigating violence.

The stakeholders, however, urged government at all levels to entrench sustainable formidable structures targeted at enhancing dialogue and social cohesion among the various ethnic and religious groups across the nation.