Facilitators at the just concluded training on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Early Warning Response Mechanisms for Stakeholders in Taraba State, have advised that no person should be killed as a result of his or her religious beliefs.
Organized by Search For Common Ground, SFCG, the training which took place in Jalingo, the state capital, was observed to have brought together participants including security operatives and journalists.
Advocating for collective efforts to promote and protect freedom of religion and belief throughout the state and the country at large, they emphasized that no life should be exterminated due to differences in religious beliefs.
They advised that individuals should be allowed to practice religions of their choice as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.
In his presentation, SFCG National Conflict and Policy Analyst, Andy Nkemneme, stressed the need for collaboration with the state government to reduce religious conflicts and empower actors to address and prevent religious conflicts and other forms of crisis, among which include farmers and herders clashes.
Nkemneme, who went ahead to reel out the importance of establishing effective Early Warning Response and referral mechanisms to address issues that have to do with freedom of religion and beliefs, argued that the need to enhance public understanding of inter-faith conflicts has become vital.
He beckoned at the stakeholders to work round the clock to support individuals that are observed to be at the risk of being persecuted for their religious beliefs.
Echoing Nkemneme’s sentiment, other facilitators, including Senior Project Officer Habiba Gazali, the Project Manager Daniel Ogabiela, the Head of Programme Implementation, Godwin Okoko, the Programme Development and Quality Reporting Coordinator, Tosin Adebayo, noted that with all hands on deck, conflicts that often emanate as a result of differences in religious beliefs would soon be a thing of the past.
No life should be terminated due to religious beliefs – SFCG