Over 200 peace-building cases have been successfully addressed in Bayelsa communities through the Transforming Criminality and Violence project, funded by the European Union and implemented by Search for Common Ground. The State Peace Architecture (SPA) revealed this at its July meeting in Yenagoa.
The project, which spanned 18 months, aimed to transform criminality and violence in 66 communities across Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta states. With the project nearing its end, stakeholders from 16 communities in Bayelsa’s eight local government areas are exploring ways to sustain the peace-building efforts.
SPA Chairman, Mr. Alfred Walson-Belemote, emphasized the need for continuity, citing the project’s success in addressing over 200 cases and implementing 16 ongoing projects to provide alternative livelihoods for natives and youths. He also advocated for establishing a Community Peace Commission in Bayelsa State.
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The Chairman of the Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubraye Dakolo, commended the SPA for its interventions and called for more engagements with traditional institutions to achieve set objectives.
The meeting brought together leaders from the Community Peace Architecture, Local Government Peace Architecture, security agencies, Christian Association of Nigeria, civil society, media, and the Ministry of Community Development to discuss sustaining peace-building efforts in Bayelsa communities.
