Zamfara sets up  peace, security committee

The Zamfara Government on Monday inaugurated a Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration, Peace and Security Committee.

The committee is chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Nakwada.

Governor Dauda Lawal, represented by his deputy, Malam Mani Malam Mummuni, inaugurated the committee in Gusau.

Mr Nakwada, in his acceptance speech, said the committee would pursue reconciliation from a position of strength, within the rule of law.

He said the administration would not compromise justice, accountability or the security of communities in its peacebuilding efforts.

“We must work towards a structured, credible and nationally aligned DDR framework that complements ongoing security operations,” Nakwada said.

He said the framework would facilitate genuine disarmament and reintegration, strengthen community resilience and deliver measurable improvements in peace and security.

Mr Nakwada cautioned that the process must not create the perception that perpetrators of violence were rewarded while victims were forgotten.

“For peace to be credible and sustainable, victims must see themselves at the centre of the peacebuilding process,” he said.

The SSG said DDR could not be complete if attention focused solely on individuals laying down their arms.

“Reintegration must therefore proceed alongside victim recovery, community rehabilitation and restoration of public confidence,” he added.

Mr Nakwada called for a well-structured Zamfara victims’ support fund as an integral component of the state’s wider peace and security architecture.

He said the framework should provide transparent and coordinated support to victims and communities affected by violence.

According to him, such support should cover rehabilitation, psychosocial assistance, livelihood restoration, vulnerable families, education and community recovery.

Immediately after the inauguration, Mr Nakwada led a joint delegation of peacebuilding teams to inspect the Operation Safe Corridor DDR camp.

The facility is located in Tsafe town, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara.

Mr Nakwada described the facility as a multi-billion-naira project donated by the Zamfara Government.

He said the donation demonstrated the state’s commitment to peacebuilding across the North-West region.
NAN