Taking the Peace Message to Community Stakeholders

The peace club in Gokana (Mogho and Bera) and Anyu (Abua/Odual) with support from CEHRD had three advocacy visits to community stakeholders in November and December 2015.  Gokana Peace Club community stakeholder advocacy visit was held on Monday, November 23, 2015 with over 20 persons in attendance. The focus of the advocacy was to identify with community stakeholders in addressing incessant incidence of rape and cult attacks which has constituted serious security threats to members of the community.

The Advocacy team was made up of Peace club members, peace club facilitators and CEHRD project officers (Output 3). The first visit was made to the Divisional Police Officer, Nigeria Police, Kpor Divisional Headquarters, (Gokana), the paramount ruler of Mogho community- (His Royal Highness) Mene Stephen B. Kpea and Methodist Church, Mogho Parish.

The DPO Kpor division, SP Charles Ogun expressed concern over the culture of silence displayed by members of the community over the incidences of rape in the communities. He encouraged members of the peace club to give the police vital information which will help his men in handling cases of rape and other forms of violence against women and girls. To facilitate this communication, the DPO gave the advocacy team his direct telephone line.

The paramount ruler of Mogho community- His Royal Highness, Mene Stephen B. Kpea and his chiefs in council pledged their commitment to the peace club by ensuring that issues raised are adequately addressed through collective effort. He also volunteered to be the patron of the peace club in Gokana.

In the same vein, the Methodist church also promised support towards achieving a crime-free society by ensuring that children are trained to become good citizens. Speaking on behalf of the church council, Mr. Kpogio Barigiasi Kelvin (Steward I) of the Methodist Church, Mogho Parish appealed to the peace club to see to the inclusion of the church in its activities.

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