By Ehinome Agbon, Kaduna, 9 February 2025

Nigeria – The Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP), in collaboration with the Kingdom Leaders Foundation (KLF), has sensitized residents of fourteen communities in Kakau, Chikun Local Government Area, on community peacebuilding using the Early Warning Early Response (EWER) mechanism.
The event, held on Saturday at Government Secondary School, Kakau, aimed at strengthening religious tolerance, peace, and unity in Kaduna and Nigeria at large.
Commitment to Peace and Ethical Leadership
Speaking at the event, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, represented by Alhaji Idris Abdulwahab, highlighted COFP’s commitment to providing a platform for peacebuilding and social change in Nigeria and across Africa.
“The foundation strives to address peace-related challenges by promoting ethical leadership and creating spaces for faith leaders, citizens, and political leaders to engage in meaningful discussions on peace and development,” he said.
He emphasized that COFP also equips communities with conflict management and transformation skills, helping them resolve disputes amicably.
Empowering Communities for Security and Stability
The convener of the event, Pastor Emmanuel Adegbegi, stressed the importance of community involvement in security, urging residents to be watchful and proactive in safeguarding their neighborhoods.
“Having experienced various crises, including banditry, terrorism, and kidnappings, we saw this workshop as an opportunity to remind Kakau communities that an injury to one is an injury to all,” Adegbegi stated.
He revealed that he once had to relocate his family due to the insecurity in Kakau but expressed optimism that collective vigilance could restore peace.
The Role of Peace and Forgiveness
A resource person, Reverend Bitrus Dangiwa, charged participants to embrace justice, fairness, reconciliation, and forgiveness as key elements of peace. He reminded them that humanity must come first before religion.
Similarly, Malam Hayatu Ashafa underscored the importance of recognizing and respecting individual identities, as well as verifying information before raising alarms. He explained how the CEWER mechanism could help prevent conflicts by enabling timely intervention.
Voices from the Community
The Village Head of Kakau, Mr. Iliya Garba Yerima, commended the initiative, describing it as the first of its kind in the area. He urged other NGOs to focus on rural communities, as such interventions could significantly enhance peace and religious tolerance.
A survivor of abduction, Mrs. Jummai Ishiaku (real name withheld), shared her ordeal, revealing how she and her baby spent over two months in captivity. Despite recognizing some of her abductors, she chose to forgive them, emphasizing the power of healing through reconciliation.
“I know those who abducted me. When I see them, I greet them and laugh because, by God’s grace, I was able to forgive and move on,” she said.
Similarly, a youth leader, Mr. Joseph Adamu, expressed gratitude to the organizers, stating that many residents had abandoned their homes due to insecurity. However, with the new sensitization, he hoped the community would be more proactive in reporting threats to security agencies.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment from participants to work together in fostering peace and ensuring timely responses to security threats in their communities.