From Joseph Uchenna, in Makurdi
Youths have been urged to be in the vanguard in the fight against gender based violence that has continually been on the increase in our society.
This call formed the nucleus of a discourse at a one day workshop organized by Interfaith Dialogue Networks, IDN held in Makurdi on Tuesday.
Focal person/Desk Officer Interfaith Dialogue Networks Dr. Abigail Gire said they have deliberately included the youths who are usually seen as agents of violence to be agents of change and peace.
She explained that the essence of the programme is to send out the early warning signs especially during this ’ember’ month against gender based violence.
She said, “the essence of this Interfaith Dialogue which we have incorporated the youth is that as religious and youth leaders, we brought some youths from Yelwata, the area that was recently attacked.
“We ought to see ourselves as human and one. Gender Based Violence, GBV is everywhere and we are in the Ember season and the youths are the ones that are most vulnerable in committing these acts, so we should sound an early warning and make the youths be a voice.
“Society see the youths as been violent but we want that trend to change and let the youths be seen as agents of change and peace. And as religious leaders, we do not want to be used against each other, we stand for humanity”.
Commenting on GBV status in Benue, the IDN Focal person lamented that it is continually on the increase.
According to her, ‘when you talk about GBV statistics, as an academic, I do not mention figures when I do not have source of information. But currently, from reliable sources, GBV is not going down, it is going higher. Several interventions are there, yet it is going higher than what any information can provide because you know there are those that are under reported and those not reported completely.
“As religious leaders we are trying to dive into some issues, fact finding before we voice out. Our young girls are now selling their ovaries and the young men their sperms. So, as religious leaders, we decided to investigate and know what to do. If you go by the law, some of them will say that they are over 18 years and they can do whatever they want but then, as early warning signals, can they still become mothers and fathers? What happens, because you do not know the number of eggs that contain children in your womb and at the end of the day, if you will still give birth to children. So, these issue are there and as religious leaders, we should bring them up. Just like the issue of under age prostitution that was happening at Yaman Park in Makurdi which in our little way, we were able to tackle. In the mosques and churches, we have voices that can be heard so let us wake up”.
In a paper entitled, ‘Faith-rooted response to. Gender Based violence for Youth led change’, Dr Maryam Yakubu said religious leaders are gate keepers against discriminatory tendencies of GBV
She disclosed that over 4,000 cases of GBV had been reported in 2023 in Benue State with the figures still rising, decrying the lack of access to justice of victims especially in the rural areas.
“The youths must be trained in commuication and counseling for peaceful co-existence. They must be seen as bridges of peace and transformation.
While another academia Dr Jackson Ode who spoke on Inter-faith Early-Warning/Early Response Networks for Youth-led Peace building stressed the need for careful monitoring of indicators such as hate speech, rumors, attacks on religious symbols, extremist activities, political coloration to religion and threats/intimidation, do not escalate into violence or conflicts.
He said there should be partnership between inter-faith, civil societies, international organizations and youth leaders for early warning signs.
