Banditry: Forum urges N’West, N’East leaders on joint strategy

Leaders of the North East and North West regions of the country have been urged to develop a joint strategy to tackle the protracted banditry, insurgency and other forms of insecurity ravaging the regions. The Country Director, International Alert Nigeria, Mr Paul Nyulaku-Bemshima, made the call at the weekend in Abuja at a two-day workshop […]

Leaders of the North East and North West regions of the country have been urged to develop a joint strategy to tackle the protracted banditry, insurgency and other forms of insecurity ravaging the regions.

The Country Director, International Alert Nigeria, Mr Paul Nyulaku-Bemshima, made the call at the weekend in Abuja at a two-day workshop on addressing patterns of violence, injustice and criminality in the two regions.

The event was organised by International Alert Nigeria in collaboration with the Borno State Ministry of Information and Internal Security, Forum of Commissioners and Advisers on Security of Northwest and frontline states, and UK International Development through the Promoting Stability, Access to Justice and Accountability in Northwest Nigeria Project (Samun Adalchi Shi Ne Kwanciyar Hankali).

Nyulaku-Bemshima said the meeting was necessary to halt the menace and destruction in the regions and by extension the country.

• Tinubu, Akpabio, Abbas, govs mourn Wigwe
• Ekiti: I planned to commit suicide if my grandchildren weren’t released – Grandma

He said the forum is also a peer learning on the successes of the various steps taken so far by the regions in containing banditry and other security challenges to harness the gains and overcome the loopholes.

Also, Dr Mairo Mandara, Chief Adviser and Coordinator on Humanitarian Affairs, Partnerships and Sustainable Development, Borno State, noted the importance of effective collaboration to restore lasting peace in the areas worst affected by insecurity, and other parts of the country.

The Acting Director General, the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr Joseph Ochogwu, commended the planned joint advocacy strategy.

He said the country needs an enlightened citizenship, without which many results would not be achieved.