Zamfara: Conflicts are resolvable even without Courts, NGO trains Communities

From Ibrahim Kaulahi, Gusau

A Country Director of a Nongovernmental Organization International Alert (IA), Paul Bemshima Nyulaku, has opined that the locally triggered conflicts could be resolved even without going to Courts of law.

Paul Nyulaku stated this in an interview with newsmen in Gusau the capital of Zamfara State shortly after opening ceremony of a one-day workshop organized for communities from Tsafe and Birnin Magaji on increasing access to local justice.

Represented by the Project Manager, Sunday Momoh Jimoh, said the aim of the workshop was to strengthen local and informal legal systems through the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

According to him, rebuilding and restoration of mutual understanding between a community could serve as lead to resolving numerous cases sparked between groups of tribes, political, economic and beliefs.

Delivering a paper titled: understand the concept of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and its significance in conflict resolution and peace building, a resource person, the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Justice, barrister Musa Bukkuyum, informed that already, his ministry has established departments resolving cases outside courts.

The establishments as according to Bukkuyum, are operating to resolving simple cases amicably outside courts with a view to ensure courts are decongested.

Also speaking, another resource person, the Director General, Kaduna State Multidoor Court House, Dorcas Levy Daniel, has spoken on the need to understand the conflict, its cause, the stages and actors, as well as stakeholders behind it for easy resolution.

Dorcas Daniel further solicited for quick identification of both primary and secondary parties of a conflict, a shadow party whose role is to hide and fuel the crisis as well, before finally engaging the stakeholders in the conflict for resolution at community level.