In an effort to eradicate poverty and encourage self-reliance, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), working with the Borno State government, has been running skills acquisition programmes and has already trained about 1,500 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), local hunters and vigilante groups.
The skills training included tailoring, cap making, raising poultry, fishing, irrigation and seasonal farming activities, as well as rearing livestock, and took place in Maiduguri, the state’s capital.
The participants said they were extremely pleased with the training because it would help them to get jobs and be able to live like normal people, instead of being at war all the time.
Umar Abdullahi, a member of CJTF, Sector 10, Maiduguri, told RNI that the training had been “empowering” and the participants were extremely grateful.
“The training lasted for about 22 days and there were many skills to choose from.”
Abdullahi said CJTF members, local hunters and vigilante groups had played a vital role in the fight against the insurgency “not only in Borno State but also throughout the country”. Thousands had sacrificed their lives to ensure sustainable peace and security.
“It is only right that CJTF members and the other locals who have been fighting with us against the insurgents deserve to get training. We need to be empowered and self-reliant. After all, as part of their rehabilitation, repentant insurgents receive skills training. So it’s only fair that the people who fought against the insurgency should get training too so that they can become useful and hard-working citizens who can look after their families properly.”
Mohammed Zarami, also a member of CJTF, Sector 3, Maiduguri, said: “I was one of thousands of participants who benefited from the skills training programmes. My interest is in rearing livestock, such as sheep and goats, which I believe now, after the training, will provide a sustainable income, allowing me to look after my family.
“This training is one of the steps being taken to shut down the CJTF as it will not be needed because peace, security and stability are gradually returning to Borno State.”
Zarami said the state government and the UNDP deemed it necessary to support CJTF members and other volunteer vigilante groups by providing skills training.
“The members have been working side by side with the Nigerian Army and other security operatives. In many cases, the members don’t know anything but war and fighting. Now that they have been trained, they will be able to start their own businesses. And it will also discourage them from becoming armed robbers and other criminals.”
SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO
