Zamfara Seeks Victims’ Support Fund To Strengthen Peacebuilding

The Zamfara State Government has called for the immediate establishment of a Victims Support Fund as a core component of its security and peacebuilding framework to address the impact of banditry on communities across the state.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Malam Abubakar Mohammed Nakwada, made the call in Gusau while delivering his acceptance speech as Chairman of the newly- inaugurated Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Peace and Security Committee.

According to a statement signed on Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the SSG, Suleman Ahmad Tudu, the 15-member committee was inaugurated by Governor Dauda Lawal, who was represented by his deputy, Malam Mani Malam Mummuni, at the Grand Chamber, Government House, Gusau.

Nakwada said the committee’s activities would be guided by the Lawal administration’s position that reconciliation must be pursued from a position of strength, within the rule of law and without compromising justice, accountability or the security of communities.

“We must work towards a structured, credible and nationally aligned DDR framework that complements ongoing security operations, facilitates genuine disarmament and reintegration, strengthens community resilience and delivers measurable improvements in peace and security,” he said.

The SSG stressed that the DDR process must not create the impression that perpetrators of violence were being rewarded while victims were abandoned.

“For peace to be credible and sustainable, victims must see themselves at the centre of the peacebuilding process. DDR cannot be complete if we focus only on those laying down arms without addressing those who have borne the consequences,” Nakwada said.

He added that reintegration must go hand in hand with victim recovery, community rehabilitation and the restoration of public confidence.

Nakwada said there was an “urgent need” for a well-structured Zamfara State Victims Support Fund to provide transparent and coordinated assistance to people affected by banditry.

He said the proposed fund should support rehabilitation, psychosocial care, livelihood restoration, vulnerable families, education and broader community recovery.

Shortly after the inauguration, Nakwada led a joint delegation of local and international partners to inspect the Northwest DDR Camp for Operation Safe Corridor in Tsafe.

The multi-billion-naira facility was donated by the Zamfara State Government as part of its commitment to regional peacebuilding efforts.

The delegation included former Colombian National Security Adviser, Ambassador Sergio Jaramillo, who said Colombia had faced similar challenges and was willing to partner with Zamfara State.

“The problem you are facing today is exactly the same problem we faced in Colombia. Our aim is to make the lives of the people better. The problem of crime can never disappear, but we can reduce it,” Jaramillo said.

Other members of the delegation included Gen. Alberto Mejía (rtd), former Commander of the Colombian Armed Forces; Gen. Felix Gedney (rtd), former British Defence Adviser; Dr Eleanor Beevor of Interpeace; Brig. Gen. Yusuf Ali, Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor; and Ambassador Abimbola Wonuola, Director of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE).