Early warning signs have continued to be a great measure to identify potential conflict before it actually erupts around the globe, more importantly, are the emergence of new pockets of conflicts in Africa, but the Nigeria experience with the current agitations for secession from different ethnic groups that made up the population have continued to heighten a dangerous tension within that country.
The bitter experience of the Rwandan genocide has thought us a great lesson about discrimination on a global scale, and how the dangers of misunderstood animosity could rob a nation of 10,000 people a week that amounted to more than one million casualties in one of the world’s most brutal genocide.
The lesson of truth is that conflict doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. There are always signs warning that a conflict is developing as we can see in Nigeria today. After a very bloody civil war [Nigeria/Biafra War] that saw the death of more than one million people, the National question has remained unanswered. From the South Eastern Biafra secessionist agitations to the South-South Niger/Delta Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), the Arewa group in the North and the Oduduwa agitations in the West, there seems to be no end to separatist’s agitation in the country.
In a country of more than 250 ethnic groups, Conflict Managers who know study and monitor early warning signs are beginning to speak out in order to confront the problem before it rages out of hand, but the question that has continued to evolve are those of Nigeria government preparedness to see beyond the curtains.
At GlobalCops, we are committed to working with the government and young people in Nigeria to build a harmonious environment where issues of conflict can be resolved without recourse to violence. Through our early warning monitoring and evaluation, it provides the opportunity to do something to prevent the emergence and/or escalation of the conflict. Lives can be saved more economically and conflict perhaps better contained. Yet, we are working among very high powered regions who respond to perceived injustice differently, many obstacles, both theoretical and practical, remain a daunting challenge but solvable.
OUR COMMITMENT
Building relationships based on trust with communities is essential to this effort.
We have continued to work closely with thought leaders, political leaders, civil society organizations in Nigeria and the government to find common grounds and meeting points where we can advance the course of peace and tranquility in the country. Through social media engagements, street run activities (Run for Peace), posters and billboard, television ads and one on one mentorship, we have continued to intensify awareness on the dangers of allowing the country to plunge into another bloody civil war. So far, we have reached astronomical numbers in terms of our awareness interventions. We also deploy bumper stickers (stickers of all kind), Print T-Shirts and other print materials with a message against hate speech and leadership questions that has giving credence to the unending quest for secession by the different federating units in the Country. Our awareness materials are given out free of charge to citizens of Nigeria in all works of life, Colleges and Universities around the country. We also hold town halls, seminars, conferences targeting vulnerable communities and individuals.