NGO organises novelty football tournament, as repentant B/Haram defeat host Community
By Ladi Dapson Maiduguri
A Non Governmental organization (NGO), Peace Ambassador Centre for Humanitarian Aid and Empowerment in collaboration with the Borno state Government and the British council (BC), have organized a football tournament for the members of a community and the repentant Boko Haram insurgents to promote peace and reconcilation.
The Kukawa team of the repentant Boko Haram insurgents defeated Kaleri team by two goals to one to win the trophy in a bid to promote peace building and coexistence in Borno State.
According to the Executive Director (PAHCE), Ahmed Shehu, eight teams both from the communities and the repentant Boko Haram members participated in the tournament that lasted for two weeks.
“At the early stage eight team both from the community and the repentant Boko Haram members participated in the tournament and the Kukawa team of the repentant Boko Haram emerged victorious. This is one of our efforts to promote peace and tranquility in Borno state.
“Without peace there will be no development, so peace is paramount and we must strive to ensure we have lasting peace in the state,”Shehu said.
Speaking before the presentation of the trophy, the Borno state commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar said ” this tournament is an indication that the community has accepted our brothers the repentant Boko Haram members back to the society”.
The commissioner who was represented by the director in the ministry, Babagana Mustapha thanked the Peace Ambassador centre and the British Council for the support and assured of the ministry’s continued support to bring lasting peace to the state.
Throughout the time of this tournament, we have not had any problem, this showed that the community have agreed to accept our brothers who lay down their arms and by the grace of God lasting peace will return to our state”, Shehu said.
Also speaking in an interview , the captain of the repentant Boko Haram Kukawa football team, Mallam Mamman thanked the organizers of the tournament, stressing that they really enjoyed every moment of the tourniquet.
” For the last two weeks, we played successfully and nobody insulted or harassed us, this shows we have been accepted back to the society. I am calling for more of such tournaments. We equally promise to be law abiding citizens”, he said.
Mamman said ” I am calling on our brothers that are still there in the bush to come out and embrace peace, you can see we have been accepted by the society, they should also come for us to have lasting peace.
The tournament was funded by British Council, supported by the Borno state government and implemented by Centre for Peace, Humanitarian Aid and Empowerment.
