HURIWA Tasks Kaduna Govt to Rehabilitate Displaced Communities

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Kaduna State Government to not only recover farmland stolen by bandits but also to focus on the rehabilitation of communities displaced by insecurity. In a statement, HURIWA's National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, praised Governor Uba Sani and security forces for enabling farmers to regain access to their lands.

However, the group emphasized that this success must be followed by comprehensive measures to guarantee the safety and economic recovery of these affected areas. HURIWA highlighted that beyond security implications, the return of farmland can boost agricultural production, restore household incomes, and enhance food security in Kaduna State.

The group noted that prolonged insecurity had led to the forced displacement of many residents, leaving communities economically weakened and families separated. To ensure that the recent security gains translate into tangible improvements in the lives of displaced residents, HURIWA urged Governor Sani to initiate a "recover, restore, and rebuild" program.

This program should include identifying and safely returning landowners, establishing mechanisms for their return, and providing necessary infrastructure such as roads, schools, healthcare facilities, water, and electricity. Additionally, the association advocated for targeted economic assistance to help farmers recover from years of lost production, including agricultural inputs, affordable credit, farming equipment, and extension services.

HURIWA also recommended strengthening community-based early warning systems and involving local stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth organizations, women's groups, farmers' associations, and displaced persons, in peacebuilding initiatives. The group stressed that lasting peace requires sustained dialogue, justice, reconciliation, community trust, economic recovery, and an effective system for resolving disputes before they escalate into violence.

While acknowledging the farmland recovery as an important start, HURIWA stressed that the real test lies in whether displaced residents can safely reclaim their homes and livelihoods. The ultimate success of the intervention should be measured by residents' ability to return home, cultivate their farms, educate their children, and operate their businesses in a secure environment.