STAKEHOLDERS SEEK RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM, INCLUSION TO CURB CONFLICT IN SOKOTO

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

The stakeholders 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 in 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, described peace as essential to the existence and development of society.

Binji said the participation of people from different cultural, religious and linguistic backgrounds demonstrated the importance of peaceful coexistence.

He urged residents to make peace a priority in their homes, schools, workplaces and communities, noting that insecurity, including kidnapping and banditry, continued to threaten peaceful coexistence.

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

The District Head of Gagi also urged Nigerians to respect one another regardless of political, religious, ethnic or regional differences.

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

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 supporting efforts to strengthen unity and peaceful coexistence through responsible messaging.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Sokoto State Council, Usman Binji, urged journalists to strictly adhere to professional and ethical standards, particularly in their coverage of 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 part of democracy but could create tension when accompanied by hate speech, misinformation, ethnic or religious profiling, intimidation and violence.

He urged journalists to differentiate between legitimate criticism and hate speech, stressing that holding public officials accountable and investigating government projects should not automatically be regarded as hate speech.

However, he warned journalists against publishing material that stereotypes, dehumanises, collectively blames, threatens or encourages hostility towards people because of their identity.

Binji also called on journalists to verify information before publication, clearly distinguish facts from allegations and opinions, provide affected individuals with the opportunity to respond and avoid sensational headlines.

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

“Speed must never replace verification,” he said, while also urging political parties and candidates to reject hate speech and violence.

Citizens, he added, should 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 aimed at promoting equal opportunities for different groups, particularly persons living with disabilities.

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

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

Rufai noted that Sokoto had previously been known for its peaceful environment and said the police command was working towards restoring that level of peace.

He stressed that maintaining peace was a collective responsibility and called for stronger cooperation between security agencies and communities.