PIND Targets 66 Niger Delta Communities with Conflict, Crime Resolution Training

The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives Niger Delta (PIND), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), says 66 communities in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states will benefit from its conflict and crime resolution training.

David Udofia, PIND’s peace-building manager, spoke in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, at a two-day training on ‘Peacebuilding’ for some communities and youth leaders in Obio/Akpor and Emohua Local Government Areas.

Udofia noted that the training, funded by the European Union (EU) aimed at equipping participants with a strategic approach to tackling communal unrest as well as oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

He said 13 local government areas in Rivers state benefited from the training.

He added that the project, which adopts a community-centred approach to transforming criminality and violence in the region would be implemented within 18 months and in partnership with other stakeholders like the – ‘Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), Academic Associates Peace Works (AAPW) and Search for Common Ground.

“The project aims at fostering an inclusive approach with a view to systematically addressing the drivers of violence and criminality in target states,” Udofia said.

“In Rivers, we have trained and equipped some Peace Ambassadors with requisite knowledge on effective management and response to crime as well as the commitment to the security of lives and collective protection of National assets.

“The training had so far been carried out in 13 Local Area councils of Andoni, Emohua, Port Harcourt, Obio Akpor, Gokana, Khana, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Eleme, Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, Ahoada West, Ahoada East, and Okirika all in Rivers.

“At the end of the training, we would have successfully built and strengthened community leaders and volunteers across the 26 selected communities in the state.”

Meanwhile, programme beneficiaries have commended PIND and the donor agencies for the training and promised to impact their communities with the knowledge gained.

One of them, Amadi Chimezie of Rumuolumini community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area noted that the youths have lots of roles in fostering peace and curbing crime.

He said that engaging the youths in such training that had further broadened their perception would guard them from being vulnerable to unpatriotic social activities.

Another beneficiary, Christianah Ajoku, from the Eneka community, Obio/Akpor said that the training has exposed them to various collaborative measures for conflict resolutions.

She promised to engage other women at the community level on the need to get involved in peace-building