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By Shafa’atu Suleiman, Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs) and promoting sustainable peace initiatives across communities affected by insecurity in the state.
The assurance was given during a community dialogue and psychosocial support programme organised by Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria in collaboration with United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute at Guiwa IDP Camp in Sokoto State.
The intervention, held under the theme “Building Community Resilience: Supporting Women’s Role in Conflict Prevention and Mediation,” benefited over 200 displaced persons, mostly women, drawn from conflict-affected communities across the North-West.
Speaking at the event, Abdulkareem M. Lawali, who represented the Special Adviser to the Governor of Sokoto State on Resident Communities and IDPs, said the state government remains committed to programmes that improve the welfare of displaced families and strengthen peacebuilding efforts.
He commended CARITAS Nigeria and its partners for implementing interventions that address both the humanitarian and social challenges facing displaced persons.
Lawali noted that the state government recognises the importance of community-based peacebuilding initiatives, especially those targeted at empowering women and vulnerable groups affected by banditry and displacement.
Earlier, the Project Lead of CARITAS Nigeria, Jude Akwo, explained that the initiative was designed to strengthen women-led peacebuilding efforts and build resilience against insecurity and violent extremism.
According to him, the programme forms part of the UNICRI-funded project titled “Assessing and Addressing the Nexus between Organized Crime and Terrorism in Africa.”
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Akwo said women constituted about 70 per cent of the participants because of their critical role in conflict prevention and mediation within communities.
Also speaking, a consultant with CARITAS Nigeria, Mahmoud Malami Sadik, disclosed that findings from field research conducted in Sokoto and Zamfara states revealed that women remain the most affected victims of banditry and displacement.
He said many women lost their husbands during attacks, while others suffered various forms of abuse and trauma.
Sadik explained that the research covered Wurno and Goronyo Local Government Areas of Sokoto State, where interviews were conducted with IDPs, community leaders, security experts and other stakeholders.
He further lamented the poor living conditions in several IDP settlements, noting that some displaced families live in uncompleted buildings lacking proper security, toilets and access to clean water.
“We want to turn the narrative from women being just victims to becoming agents of peace. As mothers, daughters and wives, they have critical roles to play in conflict prevention and mediation,” he said.
The programme also featured a psychosocial support session facilitated by Fauziyya Sani, a certified psychosocial specialist, who trained participants on trauma management, emotional wellbeing and resilience-building.
Participants expressed appreciation to CARITAS Nigeria and UNICRI for the intervention, describing the support as timely amid worsening humanitarian challenges facing displaced families in the region.
