Nigerian Women Mediators Network Decry Exacerbating Insecurity, Threats to life & properties & Wanton loss of lives Across All the Six Geopolitical Zones in the country, and state Enough Is Enough!

A National Press Statement Released on September 21, 2021, in Abuja 

As we mark this year’s International Day of Peace (IDP) on September 21, a day declared by the UN General Assembly to be devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. The 2021 IDP is coming as the world and indeed Nigeria tries to heal from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are inspired to think creatively and collectively about how to help everyone recover better, how to build resilience, and how to transform our world into one that is more equal, more just, equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and healthier.

The 2021 theme for this years’ International Day of Peace is “Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world”. It aligns directly to situations in Nigeria as we grapple to address intractable violent conflicts and security threats ranging from Boko Haram, farmer herders conflicts, kidnapping and banditry as well as the threats by Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB). 

The Nigerian Women Mediators Networks (NWMN) recognizes the importance of this day, to amplify and join our voices to call on our leaders to be proactive, enjoin our communities to embrace dialogue, and encourage a more collaborative approach to addressing our issues.

Arising from its National Meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, NWMN in its entirety denounce, condemn and raise their voices in unequivocal terms to the exacerbating insecurity, continuing and unabating threats to lives and properties, and wanton loss of lives across the length and breadth of Nigeria. From east to the west, north, and south, the fear and feeling of insecurity of lives and properties are palpable and scary.

Several households and families no longer sleep with their eyes closed. Inter and intrastate travels have become so risky and scary that Nigerians are prisoners in their country. From Imo to Kaduna, Jos to Benue, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kastina, Ondo, Ogun, and Enugu, just to mention but a few the story is the same.

That Nigerians now live in fear and desolation daily is an understatement. It is now an accepted norm in the whole of the southeast that no form of activity including private, public, commercial, official, unofficial, charity, etc, can take place every Monday in solidarity for the acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Maxi Nnamdi Kalu. Similarly, Nigerians can no longer travel safely along Kaduna-Abuja and across the Northeast and Northwest states without the threats of kidnapping or armed banditry.

Sadly, those vested with the power and resources to secure our country have thus far kept mum, saying nothing and doing very little, thereby leaving the fate of millions of Nigerians to the whims and caprices of youths loyal to the philosophy and dictates of terror leaders, kidnapping kingpins and bandits.

The Nigerian Women Mediators Network strongly condemns in unequivocal terms the security breach and infiltration of unknown gunmen and bandits into Nigeria and especially the rising attacks of our armed forces fighting these threats. These gallant soldiers and other security agents should not be made to suffer or die in their prime. While we pray for the faithful repose of their souls and ask God to comfort their families, colleagues, and loved ones, we raise our voices as Nigerian Women Mediators Network to scream to all Nigerians; ENOUGH IS INDEED ENOUGH!

The adoption of hundreds of students in Niger, Kaduna, and many other places remains worrisome. It is a fact that schools remained closed between May and August 2021 in Kaduna, Kebbi, and other states, as students have continued to be soft targets for kidnapping for ransom. Yet Education is the bedrock of any modern and developed society. This is scary and worrisome. Sadly, these students like others in other states of the federation must compete with their mates and write the same external exams to move on to the next level in their lives.

The ongoing Mayhem in Plateau state where deliberate mutilation and annihilation of human beings in tens, the twenties, and hundreds are alarming. The Herders/ Farmers clash in Agatu and other communities in Benue and Nasarawa states cannot be diminished. The story goes on from one gory incident to another, making our dear country a one day, one trouble, more deaths,

Nigerian women Mediators Network is weeping, Nigerian mothers are wailing. We are tired of losing our loved ones. We are tired of burying our youths, we are tired of sending our children, youths, women, and men to their early graves and we use this opportunity to call on all Nigerians to stand up and join us to say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

We want and desire a Nigeria that has value for the lives and properties of its citizens. We desire a Nigerian that works for Nigeria. We Desire a Nigerian that is equitable for us and our generations unborn. We desire a Nigerian that we can bequeath to the future generation.

Our Call:

To This end, we are calling on all the Executive Governors of all the 36 states of the federation including the FCT to live up to their duties as the Chief Security Officers of their states and secure their citizens.

We are calling on all the security agencies, their apparatuses, and architecture in Nigeria to do their duties and collaborate with our network and other civil society groups to mediate and bring lasting peace and healing to our motherland as we have no place we can call our home except Nigeria and we shall not wait and watch Nigeria implode.

We are pleading to all critical stakeholders to give dialogue a chance. 

WE PREACH PEACE, WE PREACH EQUITY, WE PREACH INCLUSIVITY.

These are the essence of who we are and what we do as a NATIONAL NETWORK.

LONG LIVE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA 

LONG LIVE NIGERIAN WOMEN 

LONG LIVE NIGERIAN WOMEN MEDIATORS NETWORK

Signed

Management

Prof (Iyom) Joy Onyesoh – National Co-Coordinator

Hajia Lantana Abdullahi – National Co-Coordinator

Barr. Ebere Ifendu – Team Lead, Membership Committee

Barr Rose Mary Chikwendu- Team Lead, Programs Committee

Lady Nkiru Celine Okoro – Team Lead, Communication Committee