By Yunusa Isa, Gombe

In an effort to tame crisis fueled by fake news and misinformation in Nigerian societies, TEKAN Peace Desk under its project “Faith for Peace”, has encouraged journalists in Gombe State on peace and development journalism.

Speaking during a one day training for media staff on conflict-sensitive reporting and human rights, the coordinator TEKAN Peace Desk, Mrs Helen Philimon Haggai, said Gombe State despite being peaceful compared to other states, there is need for journalists to avoid conflicts in the future, maintaining that the meeting aimed to tackle such when it eventually happens.

Helen disclosed that despite being professional, journalists need to be extra careful when reporting conflict situations.

“There are seasoned men and women who have being writing reports over the years however, they have to be very sensitive when they write reports that have to do with conflicts, as we all know that conflict is a very sensitive matter, so they have to be very sensitive when they cover conflicts reports.”

She encouraged participants to always consider factors that promote peace, understanding and tolerance rather than those that oppose, and ensure their daily reports do no harm to any member or group in the society.

She said apart from the media people selected from private and government owned outfits, the desk engages other key stakeholders in Gombe State to ensure peace at all level.

“We had meetings and engagements with different stakeholders; armed forces, civilians etc. It is actually multi stakeholders meetings at the state and local government levels to strengthen peace, human rights and democracy in Gombe State and Nigeria at large.”

The Coordinator noted that the desk has presence in three local government areas of the state; Kwami, Yamaltu Deba and Billiri, where two communities were selected from each of the local governments.

She disclosed that the project aims to reach 600,000 persons, adding that so far, more than half of the target have been reached.

“Our target is 600,000 people, they include those who watch and listen to us on radio and television and on social media. If you include all of them so far so good we have reached half of the target, and we just spent a year, and have about a year and six months remaining,” Haggai added.

One of the resource persons at the training Dr Garba Ubale Danbatta, lauded TEKAN Peace Desk for bringing journalists together to educate them as a form of refresher training, stressing that journalism as a profession demands some level of intellectual skills.

Ubale who is the General Manager Radio Nigeria Jewel FM Gombe, took participants on ‘Getting it Wrong: Case Study on Conflict Sensitive Reporting, and Constructive Approaches: Case Study, Best Practices for Conflict Sensitive Journalism’, noting that no society has immunity to conflict.

He said, “Conflict is part and parcel of human existence just like food and water that one must take every day. Like I said, conflict exists even within yourself, therefore conflict is natural. What TEKAN did today will help us know the do’s and don’t as far as the issue of covering conflict is concerned.”

Danbatta while encouraging journalists to extract themselves away while reporting conflict sensitive issues, said “You must see yourself as human being first, and those who happen to be in the midst of conflicts are equally human. It is your responsibility to do your best to save their lives and make the society better for them and yourself in the midst of the conflicts.”

He added that “You should ask yourself do you have a family? What are the measures and the strategies you are suppose to take first to make sure you remain alive, so that your community will continue to get the best out of you”.

Some participants Adamu Abubakar Kumo and Augusta Daniel expressed gratitude to TEKAN Peace Desk, maintaining that the training has been fruitful and educating.

“We have learned the basics on how best to report events especially amidst conflicts. We are now better equipped with strategies on peace journalism, on what if posted, published or aired can bring more peace in our society”, the duo added.

“Faith for Peace (F4P) is a Project co-funded by the European Union and Bread for the World. It is being implemented by TEKAN Peace Desk in Gombe State and Centre for Community Actions for Peace and Development in Nasarawa State.

The project aims to empower local actors in promoting peace building, human rights, democracy and religious tolerance in Nigeria from April 2023 to October 2025.