By Makuo Odimegwu
In Akpawfu town, an agrarian community in Enugu State, Nigeria that has been ravaged by war and conflict, a group of women from Umuanigbiyovo Oyiwode have come together to promote peace. The women have formed a group called the Women’s Alliance for Peace and Security (WAPS) to advocate for peacebuilding efforts in the community.
The history of conflict in Akpawfu is long and complicated. In the past, the community has experienced violence and insecurity due to the activities of criminal gangs, monarchical induced violence, and communal clashes. The situation took a turn for the worse when a local militia group purported to have been sponsored by a monarch in the town emerged, causing widespread fear, killings and destruction.
Despite the difficulties, the women of Umuanigbiyovo have refused to give up. They have organized themselves into a formidable force for peace, and their efforts are geared towards restoring normalcy in the town.
The Women’s Alliance for Peace and Security has launched a number of engagements to promote peace in Akpawfu. They have organized peace moves, town hall meetings, and plan to organize workshops to educate the community on the importance of peaceful coexistence. They are also reaching out to village heads and youth leaders of different villages to promote understanding and cooperation.
The women have also been actively involved in supporting displaced victims of the conflict who are taking refuge in neighbouring communities of Akpugo, Amagunze and other places. They are to set up a counselling service for survivors of violence, and are to launch fundraising initiatives to support families that have been affected by the conflict.
However, despite the tireless efforts of the Women’s Alliance for Peace and Security, the situation in Akpawfu remains dire. The community’s resources are stretched thin, and government intervention has been lacking.
The Women’s Alliance for Peace and Security is now calling on the Enugu state government to intervene. In an open letter to the governor, the group outlined their concerns and asked for greater support for peacebuilding efforts in the community.
Specifically, the group is calling for the government to work with community leaders to promote dialogue between waring families. They are also calling for increased security measures to prevent further violence, and for greater support for victims of the conflict.
However, despite the urgency of the situation, the intervention from the government has yet to come. The lack of response has made many flee from the community and the aged feeling frustrated and abandoned.
In a statement made available to journalists this morning in Enugu, the Chairperson, Women’s Alliance for Peace and Security, Mrs. Catherine Ede and Secretary Ojiugo Igweshi “decry the arrest on Friday, June 9, 2023 of Chukwuma Abel, Isiah Owoh, Nnenna Owoh nwa Ani W’nshi, Nnaemeka Agwu, Onyema Onovo Ekwe and Fidelis Onovo. They were arrested at Mgbere and Oriemba respectively in Akpugo, Nkanu West LGA, by men in police uniform. It is more worrisome that the group established and registered as the community neighbourhood watch for our town is the ones leading the arresting officers to identify only Umuanigbiyovo Oyiwode sons and daughters for arrest.
While others were released, Onyema Onovo Ekwe and Fidelis Onovo were held in detention at Amagunze police station for many days before being granted bail over the weekend.
On Sunday, June 11, 2023, Friday Okorie and Nonso Ani-Ogbu were arrested at Ozalla in Nkanu West LGA and are still in detention at Amagunze police division”.
The women want “those wrongly arrested in connection with the communal strife to be released unconditionally”.
The Women’s Alliance for Peace and Security has not given up hope, however. They have continued to advocate for their cause, speaking out against violence and promoting dialogue and understanding. They are identifying civil society organizations to work with in other to raise awareness about the conflict and to put pressure on the government to act.
They have also been seeking support from various groups and non-governmental organizations to seek assistance in their efforts to bring peace to Akpawfu.
The response from some quarters is promising. Many have expressed their support for the women’s efforts, and have pledged to help in any way they can. However, without the intervention of the government, progress has been slow.
“We have recognized that we cannot do this alone. We have been working to build partnerships with other stakeholders in the community, including religious and community leaders. We have also been engaging with young people, recognizing that the future of the community rests in their hands.
“We are seeking to participate in peacebuilding activities organized by other groups, as we believe that collective action is necessary to bring about lasting peace and security”, they said.
Despite the lack of intervention from the government, the Women’s Alliance for Peace and Security remains committed to their cause. They continue to mobilize to promote peace in the community.
Speaking on the challenges faced in the onerous task, WAPS recognizes that “the journey towards peace will not be easy, and it will require the cooperation of everyone in the community. But we are determined to see it through, for the sake of our families, our children, and our future”.
For the women of Umuanigbiyovo, and for the people of Akpawfu, the quest for peace remains a top priority. Although the intervention from the government has yet to come, the women remain optimistic that they can achieve their goal through their tireless efforts and the support of their sons especially those who resident outside their town. They are determined to create a brighter future for all, no matter the challenges they face today. GMTNews
