STAKEHOLDERS CALL FOR RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM, INCLUSION TO REDUCE CONFLICT IN SOKOTO

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By:Aminat Tajudeen

Stakeholders in Sokoto State have called for greater inclusion, responsible journalism and stronger collaboration among the government, security agencies, communities and civil society organisations to promote peace and prevent conflict in the state.

They made the call on Monday at a one-day event organised by International Alert Nigeria to mark the 2026 International Day of Peace at Pinnacle Castle Hotel, Sokoto.

The event, supported by the European Union, International Alert, Action Against Hunger and other partners, was held under the theme, “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.”

Representing the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ibrahim Adare, the ministry’s Director of Administration, Haliru Binji, said peace was essential to the existence and development of society.

Binji noted that the participation of people from different cultural, religious and linguistic backgrounds at the event underscored the importance of peaceful coexistence.

“As long as there is no peace, there is no existence. Look at the people gathered here from diverse backgrounds, culturally and even language-wise. This shows that we are existing under the umbrella of peace. If there was no peace, this gathering would not have been possible,” he said.

He urged residents to prioritise peace in their homes, schools, workplaces and communities, noting that insecurity, including kidnapping and banditry, remained major threats to peaceful coexistence.

According to him, the government, traditional and religious leaders, as well as security agencies, were working to tackle insecurity and restore peace in affected communities.

Also speaking, the District Head of Gagi urged Nigerians to respect one another regardless of their political, religious, ethnic or regional differences.

He said peaceful coexistence required recognising the rights and dignity of other citizens, noting that the Constitution guaranteed Nigerians the right to live and participate in social and political activities in any part of the country.

“We have people of different faiths here. We have Christian friends and Muslim friends. We have people with disabilities, women groups and youth groups, all together,” he said.

The traditional ruler commended the organisers for bringing together women mediators, community dialogue groups, women and youth organisations and other stakeholders to promote peace.

He also praised the media for using its platforms to promote unity and peaceful coexistence.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Sokoto State Council, Usman Binji, urged journalists to adhere to professional and ethical standards when reporting political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on “Hate Speech, Non-Violence, Shared Responsibility and Ethical Reporting During the Campaign Season,” Binji said political competition was an important aspect of democracy but could fuel tension when accompanied by hate speech, misinformation, ethnic or religious profiling, intimidation and violence.

He urged journalists to distinguish between legitimate criticism and hate speech.

“Critical journalism is not hate speech. Holding government accountable is not hate speech. Investigating public projects is not hate speech. Questioning political leaders is not hate speech,” he said.

However, he warned journalists against publishing content that stereotypes, dehumanises, collectively blames, threatens or incites hostility against people based on their identity.

Binji urged journalists to verify information before publication, distinguish facts from allegations and opinions, give affected persons the opportunity to respond and avoid sensational headlines.

He also cautioned against presenting unverified social media claims as facts, particularly as artificial intelligence has made it easier to create convincing fake photographs, videos and audio recordings.

“Speed must never replace verification,” he said.

The NUJ chairman also called on political parties and candidates to reject hate speech and violence, while urging citizens to verify political information before sharing it online.

Speaking on behalf of the NGO and RECAP Consortium Coordinator, Action Against Hunger, Ayuba Remikat Blessing, said the programme was designed to promote equal opportunities for different groups, particularly persons living with disabilities.

She said empowering vulnerable groups would promote peaceful coexistence and strengthen their participation in society.

“We want to create equal opportunities for different groups, especially persons living with disabilities, by empowering them,” she said.

The spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, urged residents to provide security agencies with useful information to help tackle crime and maintain peace.

Rufai said Sokoto was previously known for its peaceful environment and that the command was working to restore that level of peace.

He called for stronger cooperation between the police and communities, stressing that maintaining peace was a collective responsibility.