"But they are a great blessing when the diversity of rich cultures adds to community - the knowledge, customs, languages, and skills for each ethnic group contribute to the fabric of community life."
The Peace, Justice, and Reconciliation Committee (PJRC) of the Reformed Ecumenical Council of Nigeria (RECON) organized the peace walk. The Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria (CRCN) is a member of RECON.
The peace walk organisers were critical in last year's peace agreement. During the peace process, local pastors brought together Kuteb and Tiv tribal leaders along with law enforcement representatives and members of state and local governments for a series of discussions that resulted in the peace.
The walkers and their congregations hope to raise funds to rebuild Mbiya School, a K-12 facility in Taraba that was burned during the unrest. The Nigerian churches' goal is to raise 5 million Naira (£20,000) for rebuilding. PJRC also plans to pressure the local and state government to return the Mbiya school property, seized during the violence, to church ownership.
Prior to its destruction, Mbiya School educated and housed more than 1,000 primary and secondary students. Money raised through the organizers will support a joint 10-year rebuilding project.
If the event proves successful, organisers plan to hold a second, larger event in 2008 with solidarity walks across the country and perhaps the world.
"Join us in celebrating what God has done. Indeed, it is He who causes wars to cease to the ends of the earth. Pray to the God of peace that we may continue to reconcile communities' diverse cultures, and ethnicities," organisers announced.
The 10th day of the walk falls on November 28 - the first anniversary of the Takum Peace Agreement. Peace walkers will return to Takum on November 29 to end the 10-day walk.
