By Abdulkareem Haruna

In the hopeful aftermath of insurgency, the Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development in Maiduguri has taken the lead in facilitating the path towards peace, reconciliation, and reintegration.

The foundation recently conducted a one-day workshop for Mafa community stakeholders, held at the Hajja Manga Memorial Hall in the Giwa Barrack Area of Maiduguri.

The workshop, facilitated by Dr. Lawan Balami, a Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant for the foundation, and coordinated by Comrade Zanna Shettima, former NLC State Chairman and NANHWUN member, underscored the vital role of transitional justice in post-conflict environments.

Dr. Balami highlighted the framework for transitional justice, emphasizing that transparency is key to establishing trust in government-led commissions or tribunals. He also reiterated that transitional justice and reconciliation serve as the bedrock for peaceful co-existence and development in post-insurgency societies.

Comrade Shettima delved into the implications of reconciliation and peaceful co-existence, not forgetting to address the healing process from psychological traumas that often result from conflict.

He noted the significant role of both governmental and non-governmental organizations in fostering a sustainable peace and development, especially in a post-insurgency context.

In a hopeful note towards the future, both Dr. Balami and Comrade Shettima urged community stakeholders to take active roles in their community’s journey to peace. They suggested the establishment of sectoral community leaders who can effectively coordinate reconciliation, peacebuilding, and the reintegration of repentant insurgents.

Comrade Shettima expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort of the government, individuals, and corporate bodies in the ongoing process of transitional justice and reconciliation, a vital contribution to the hopeful future of a peaceful, reintegrated community.

The District Head of Mafa, His Royal Highness, Abba Kawu Abubakar Garbai, has at the end of the training commended the Foundation for sustaining its commitment to a peaceful post insurgency reconciliation and reintegration efforts. He however re-echoed the need to give specific constitutional roles to the traditional rulers who have direct link with the grassroots for effective governance and prevention of situations that could lead to conflicts like the Boko Haram insurgency.