The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has charged media practitioners operating in Katsina and other North-Western states to focus more attention on telling success stories to promote peace and community reconciliation.
In a two-day capacity-building training organized for twenty (20) participants comprising thirteen (13) males and seven (7) females, resource persons took time to enlighten them on various programmes capable of promoting a participatory transitional justice system in Katsina State.
The training held on Tuesday and Wednesday 16th and 17th January 2024 was coming barely 78 days after similar training was conducted precisely on the 30th and 31st October, 2023.
One of the resource persons, Dr Sulaiman Kura, who is also a political scientist, said, the essence of the training is to remind journalists on their responsibility, charging them to report what they observe as it is an effort to promote peace and transitional justice.
Kura while describing reconciliation as an important aspect of the transitional justice system, outlined four processes that constitute the core of transitional justice which he said, include the justice process, reparation process, truth process, and institutional reform process.
Other processes according to Kura include national and local consultations, meaningful public participation, disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR).
He explained that transitional justice mechanisms include Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, Criminal Prosecutions, Reparations, and Compensation.
He stressed that holistic effort must be made by the so-called northern governors to tackle banditry, otherwise, the problem will persist.
“Key Informant interview (KII) conducted by the CDD in 2023, shows that there were at least 23 bandits camps across four of the Katsina frontline LGAs where farmer herder conflicts still persist in the LGA communities.
“As journalists, we play a major role in de-escalating conflicts rather than escalating them. So please, do no harm, stick to the ethics,” he noted.
The second resource person, Naziru Mika’il, who is also a veteran journalist, stressed that journalists should collaborate with local communities to gather accurate information while writing conflict reporting.
He referred participants to stick to the ethics of the profession such as balancing, objectivity, and advocacy, charging them to also be sensitive, accurate, impartial, and fair while conflict reporting.
He stressed that fact-checking and data verification are more important in conflict reporting.
“As journalists, we need to collectively promote peace by telling the success stories of some of the communities living in peace after conflicts.
“We need to promote participatory transitional justice through community engagement and other strategies for community involvement.
“The role of media in fostering public awareness through collaborative approaches with civil society can not be over-emphasized,” he explained.
In his goodwill message, the International Organization for Migration’s Manager and team lead in Katsina State, Jean Nahesi Kutumbakana, called on the participants to respect the ethics of the profession and do their work professionally.
“Your message should go straight towards advocating for peace. As journalists, you can build or destroy a nation.
“Respect the ethics of the profession and do your work professionally. The message should go straight towards advocating for peace. Be ambassadors of peace. Please help us to restore peace and bring people together through your reportage.
“Success stories will encourage the affected communities to come back to terms with each other. Life is sweet. We count on your support please,” Kutumbakana appealed.
