Federal government has collaborated with Borno state government for recovery and peace-building process aftermath of Boko Haram insurgency in the state.
Speaking in Maiduguri on Thursday, at a Two-Day Stakeholders’ Engagement on Current Security Challenges in North-East, the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr George Akume said that the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fully committed to addressing menace of Boko Haram, Banditry, Kidnapping and other terrorism bedeviling some parts of the country, especially the over decade atrocities posed by Boko Haram insurgents.
He urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to give maximum support to the ongoing kinetic and non-kinetic approaches adopted by the Military and other security agencies.
According to him, the collaborative efforts between states and federal government are yielding the desired dividends as the security situation has relatively improved in most parts of the country.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of Special Services, Mr David Atah said, “Security is everybody’s business, hence, the workshop is timely with a view to charting the course for an effective conflict resolution and post-conflict recovery.
“The present Administration under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is concerned with these challenges and has been working assiduously to reduce them to the barest minimum. It is gratifying to note that the collaborative efforts are yielding the desired dividends as the security situation has relatively improved in most parts of the Country.
“The sacrifices and gallantry of members of our security agencies have resulted in the neutralization of bandits, insurgents, fundamentalists, and foreign intruders while several thousands of others and their family members have surrendered to troops. In line with Nigeria’s adherence to international human rights rules, thousands of captured and surrendered insurgents are undergoing rehabilitation preparatory to reinjection into the community.
“I use this opportunity to commend our gallant forces for effectively safeguarding our territorial integrity.
“I wish to inform you as well that the Armed Forces of Nigeria have sustained the military onslaught on armed bandits’ enclaves in the North West and North Central Geo-Political Zones, criminal elements masquerading as kidnappers across the landscape and also separatists in the South East and parts of South-South Geo-Political Zones. Substantial successes have been recorded through these efforts and strategies of engagement.
“In the Maritime domain, our waters have become calmer and negative reports of daily attacks by pirates, have reduced in frequency and magnitude. We however still experience isolated cases of attacks in the creeks of the Niger Delta area.
“I have given you this cross-country security synopsis to enable critical stakeholders to appreciate the magnitude of the efforts of the government in managing the situation and to stress the importance of collective efforts to stem the tide. As you are all aware, the Federal Government, in collaboration with States in the North East Geo-Political Zone introduced some far-reaching measures, (kinetic and non-kinetic), aimed at finding lasting solutions to these security challenges.
“These measures include; deployment of additional security personnel to the Zone, procurement of additional security equipment/platforms, formation of additional Military units, deployment of Task Force operations including, Operation Hadin Kai, Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) as well as Operation Safe Corridor, to rehabilitate the repentant elements, among others,” Akume stated.
In his speech Governor Zulum, represented by the Head of Service, Barrister Mallam Fannami said, the workshop is apt, and choosing Borno as venue is a welcome development, as it will create a Forum to consistently review the security challenges with corresponding recommendations with a view to maintaining the trust and confidence between the Government and the communities.
He regretted that the over decade atrocities by insurgents have forced many children out of school, unemployment, poverty, and destruction of lives and property in the state and the North East in general, hence, the need to key into the ongoing Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement initiative of the present administration, as peace gradually returned.
The Chief Host, Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Tar in an interview with newsmen said, the workshop is to sensitize the communities in the North East Geo-Political Zone on how they can play complementary roles in fighting insecurity and other vices, and also enable the adoption of Community-Based security solutions.
He said, “it is expected that at the end of the series of engagements, stakeholders will be encouraged to enlighten other members of their respective communities on the significance of collective efforts in fighting crime and criminality and to take advantage of a platform especially the Borno Model being established for sharing credible information for enhanced security, provision of quality education, modernization of Agriculture, infrastructural development and host of other government interventions under the leadership of Governor Zulum and other state governments in the North Eastern states.“
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