Yobe govt., UNDP train vigilantes, hunters on mental health, peacebuilding

As insecurity continues to strain communities in the North East, the Yobe Government and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have begun training volunteer security outfits in the state.

The training targets vigilante groups and hunters on mental health, early warning signs of conflict and conflict resolution.

The three-day workshop, which opened on Tuesday in Damaturu, was organised by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in partnership with UNDP.

It is under the European Union-funded SD3R project, with support from International Organisation for Migration, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and United Nations Children’s Fund.

Newsmen report that other attendees include traditional rulers, women’s organisations, journalists and officials from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The Director of Search and Rescue at SEMA, Dr Ibrahim Muhammad, said the training was part of efforts to strengthen community-led security and recovery.

Muhammad, who highlighted that community policing was crucial in security, stressed that volunteer security groups played vital roles in security and complement government in peace building.

“This is about building capacity from the grassroots.

‘’We are equipping volunteer security outfits (VSOs) and community leaders with tools for reconciliation, trauma care and peacebuilding in line with Gov. Mai Mala Buni’s early recovery agenda,” he said.

On his part, UNDP Head of Stabilisation, Charles Mback, said volunteer groups were already serving as the first line of defense in many areas with limited security presence.

“Through the Regional Stabilisation Facility, we have integrated civilian guard forces into formal structures and provided livelihood support to 300 VSOs in Yobe.

“But security work comes with trauma. That is why this training also focuses on mental health and psychosocial support,” Mback explained.

He added that participants would also learn stress management, rapid response and how to feed information into early warning systems to prevent attacks.

According to him, similar efforts have helped reduce crime and improve community trust in Yobe and Borno States, where VSOs provide patrols and intelligence gathering.

He said the goal was to move beyond just security and address the emotional toll on those who respond to crises daily.