Police CP wants conflict actors involved in addressing killings

The Zamfara State Police Commissioner, CP Kenneth Ebrimson has called on the need to bring on board actors of conflict in the search for peace, adding that the incessant killings in Zamfara was neither religious nor ethic but a display by criminal elements to disturb the peace of the state.

Ebrimson made the call on Wednesday when he received members of the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) Abuja, in his office.

He said that peace was a collective responsibility and called on major stakeholders to assist in bringing peace.

The police commissioner stressed that the roadmap to peace for every society riddled with conflicts, cannot be achieved by neglecting the real actors of conflicts.

“For peace to be achieved, everybody involved in the conflict must come to the negotiating table. Security is a collective responsibility. We must rise above the normal talk of only restricting our search for peace in summit.

“I commend members of the IDFP for taking it upon themselves to join the search for peace in the country. But the real issue here is to ensure that those involved in the crisis are also brought into dialogue. If you do that, this forum will go a long way.

“There was the 2016 peace committee that worked to ensure a return to peace in Zamfara. We experienced a time of peace for over eight months, what happened? We need to revisit the report and find out what has really happened,” the police boss said.

Speaking on behalf of the IDFP Delegation, Alhaji Aminu Yakubu, who is the Dankanden Bauchi, told the commissioner of police that the team was in Zamfara not only to condole the people but also to reach out to relevant stakeholders for peace.

He said the IDFP was a local partner of the Vienna-based organisation, KAICIID, for the promotion of the peaceful dialogue among people.

“As you rightly pointed out, we are out to collaborate with relevant organs for peace. We promised to get back to you as soon as possible after we have met relevant stakeholders to ensure we get to the roots of the problem.

“IDFP is commencing this advocacy visit to Zamfara and in the following weeks will visit Taraba, Benue. Plateau and Kaduna State to engage stakeholders to unite for peace across religious divide. “