A Switzerland-based organisation, First Step Forum (FSF), has pledged support for local civil society groups working to address religious violence and insecurity in Nigeria, following a high-level consultative dialogue held in Abuja.

The meeting, tagged “Consultative Dialogue on Religious Freedom and Peacebuilding,” took place on Sunday, bringing together representatives of local non-governmental organisations, lawmakers, and international stakeholders to discuss the persistent attacks in the Middle Belt and parts of northern Nigeria.

The FSF delegation, led by its Executive Director, Marc Jost, said the visit was aimed at understanding the root causes of the crisis and identifying areas of intervention.

“We are here to listen, learn, and serve. We want to support religious freedom,” Jost said.

During the session, representatives of about a dozen NGOs shared field experiences, highlighting insecurity at the grassroots level and calling for stronger government presence in affected communities.

“At the grassroots level, we do not see the impact of government policies. The government should come in and ensure the security of our livelihood and people,” said Maryam Abraham of the Empower Envision Foundation.

Similarly, Funmi Para-Mallam, Executive Director of the Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society, urged religious leaders to pay more attention to gender-based violence affecting women and children.

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SolaceBase reports that the FSF delegation expressed concern over the accounts, promising to review the situation and provide meaningful assistance.

“I am very touched by what you have shared with us… This is a first step for us in coming to you, and the next step would be to serve,” Jost added.

Also speaking, Eduard Heger, a member of FSF’s board, described the testimonies as valuable and encouraged collaboration among NGOs.

“Your work proves your place is irreplaceable… Courage makes the difference. The second keyword is coalitions,” he said.

On her part, Gudrun Kugler advised civil society groups to engage more with legislators to influence policy formulation, noting that stronger collaboration could enhance impact.

Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives, Amos Gwamna Magaji, assured participants that concerns raised would be presented at the National Assembly.

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“If you bring anything to me, I will take it to the relevant committee and see what can be done,” he said.

The dialogue followed an earlier engagement between FSF and representatives of Muslim and Christian communities, which culminated in a communiqué titled “Abuja Declaration for Sustainable Peace and Religious Harmony.”

In the declaration, participants identified insecurity, competition over scarce resources worsened by climate change, and a culture of impunity as key drivers of violence in the region.

They pledged to strengthen interfaith collaboration at the grassroots level to detect and de-escalate tensions, while rejecting all forms of violence carried out in the name of religion.