In an effort to enhance the capabilities of peacebuilders and community stakeholders in monitoring and responding to conflict, Search for Common Ground (SFCG) has conducted a two-day training on Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) systems. The event, which took place on October 17 and 18, 2024, at Villa Grande Hotel in Jos, Plateau State, gathered participants from various sectors, including selected cohorts, traditional and religious leaders, security personnel, and community members.
Williams Ubimago, Project Manager for the Inclusive Religious Engagement in Nigeria Enhanced by Women (IRENEW) Project, emphasized the necessity of the training in light of the persistent religiously motivated violence in Nigeria. He referenced recent incidents, such as the tragic killing of Deborah Usman Bawa and religious violence in Bauchi State, highlighting how such occurrences motivate the need for stronger early warning systems.
“Religiously motivated conflict has become a bane in Nigeria. Our goal is to ensure that community stakeholders, including institutions and agencies, are better equipped to respond to reports of violence orchestrated by issues around freedom of religion and belief across different states,” Ubimago said. He also pointed out that the project is supported by multiple donors and is part of a broader effort to promote peace in various parts of the country through the National Project on Protecting and Preventing Freedom of Religion and Belief (PPFORB), as well as the Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA).
Plateau State, which has long been a flashpoint for conflicts often linked to religious tensions, was highlighted as a priority for this intervention. Ubimago stated that the state has seen violent attacks in communities such as Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi, and Miango. “Plateau has been ravaged by conflicts, and most are tagged along religious lines. This training aims to increase community participation in the EWER mechanisms and ensure early reporting of incidents to prevent escalation.”
Tosin Adebayo, Program Development, Quality, and Reporting Coordinator at Search for Common Ground Nigeria, explained the significance of understanding both the theoretical and practical aspects of EWER. “Early Warning and Early Response as a concept has been around for years, but many adopt it without fully understanding its ethics and how to implement it effectively. Early warning involves the timely detection of conflict indicators, while early response requires coordinated actions to address these signs before they escalate,” he said.
Adebayo also noted the increasing prevalence of conflicts in Plateau State, such as farmer-herder clashes, banditry, and kidnappings, which have plagued local communities. “That’s why we see it as crucial to build the capacity of community members to detect early warning signs and respond in time to prevent violence, particularly around issues of freedom of religion and belief.”
Suchet Musa, Project Manager for JISRA at Search for Common Ground, emphasized the goal of creating platforms that foster collaboration between community members and security agencies. He noted that these platforms would allow for timely responses to conflict situations, especially those related to freedom of religion and belief.
“Many people in conflict-prone areas, like Bokkos and Barkin Ladi, notice signs of brewing violence but lack the platform to seek help. This training helps provide these platforms so that communities can prevent crises and the loss of lives and property,” Musa said.
Andy Nkemneme, National Conflict and Policy Analyst for Search for Common Ground Nigeria, reiterated the importance of peace on the Plateau and the need to prevent conflicts before they become violent. He highlighted the history of ethnic, religious, and land-related conflicts in the region, stating that the key goal of the training is to ensure that participants can identify early warning signs and set up structures to address them before they escalate.
“The challenge often lies not just in identifying these signs but in ensuring that responding agents have the capacity and resources to act in time. We’ve seen many instances where conflicts were identified early, but the response came too late,” Nkemneme explained. He stressed that participants must learn to share information promptly with authorities and ensure that actions are taken quickly to prevent violence.
Participants’ Reflections and Commitment to Peacebuilding
The training received positive feedback from participants who recognized its timely relevance to Plateau State’s ongoing security challenges.
SP Ayuba Ilia, Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Rantya Station, Plateau State Command, who represented the Commissioner of Police, praised the training for helping communities better understand early warning signs. “This program is timely because Plateau State has been engulfed in security situations. This enlightenment will help communities respond more effectively and keep themselves safe.”
Pharmacist Markus Audu Kanda, Co-Chairman of the Plateau Youth Interfaith Forum, noted the importance of the training in identifying early indicators of violence in rural communities, especially farming areas that have been targeted in attacks. “Sometimes there are rumors that, when investigated, turn out to be true. It’s important to involve security agents early to prevent violence from breaking out,” he said.
Fatima Abdullah Sani, a participant from Barkin Ladi, spoke about the importance of stepping down the knowledge gained during the training to her community members. “I’ll teach them how to recognize early signs and respond quickly to prevent violence. This is the first time I’ve received training on early warning, and I plan to share it with my fellow JISRA members and community stakeholders.”
Sheikh Umar Farouk Mohammed, Co-Chairman of the Plateau State Youth Interfaith Forum and Deputy Imam of Fiber Mosque in Jos, also highlighted the significance of religious leaders in disseminating information on early warning. “As clergymen, we have a greater reach to people, and they listen to us. I’ve already spoken about early warning signs in my sermon today, and people truly appreciated it.”
The Early Warning and Early Response training by Search for Common Ground marks a significant step towards fostering peace and resilience in Plateau State. By equipping participants with the knowledge and tools to identify and respond to conflict early, the initiative aims to prevent violence and promote greater collaboration between communities and security agencies