Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna has emphasized that a unified effort, transcending military action alone, is vital to addressing the challenges of banditry and terrorism in the Northwest and Northcentral states of Nigeria.
Speaking at a significant high-level town hall meeting titled “Promoting Peace and Security in Northwest Nigeria” held in Kaduna, Governor Sani urged for collaborative strategies involving frontline states, stakeholders, and security agencies to effectively combat these security threats.
The one-day event, organized by the Kukah Centre in partnership with Global Rights and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), aimed to contribute to community resilience against insecurity and violent extremism.
Additionally, the initiative sought to enhance women’s participation in peace-building efforts within Kaduna and Sokoto states.
Governor Sani, who was represented by Samuel Aruwan, the Mayor of Kaduna Capital Territory Authority and immediate past Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, underscored the profound impact of banditry and terrorism on various sectors such as food security, education, healthcare, and rural economy development.
He emphasized the necessity for states to unite, transcending political affiliations and religious prisms, to tackle these challenges head-on.
“The military action alone cannot solve the problems we are facing,” Governor Sani stated, stressing the importance of collaboration between state authorities and security agencies.
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“Banditry is a threat to all of us. It is also not proper to look at banditry with a prism of religion because everyone is a victim.
So, when we come together and collaborate with security agencies, we will have an edge against these non-state actors.”
Acknowledging concerns about the alliance between bandits and terrorists from neighboring countries, as highlighted by Father Barkindo, Governor Sani recalled the tangible impact of such partnerships on Nigeria.
He pointed to the collaborative attack on the Kaduna-Abuja corridor in March 2022 as an example of the alarming repercussions.
READ ALSO: Gov Sani slashes school fees for tertiary institutions in Kaduna (full list)
Father Atta Barkindo, the Executive Director of the Kukah Centre, proposed a multi-pronged approach to address security threats.
He advocated for economic liberalization to foster private sector growth and create employment opportunities.
Additionally, he highlighted the urgency of security reform to improve the welfare of security personnel and the necessity to curb impunity and enhance accountability within the nation.
The event’s discussions also emphasized the critical role of women in promoting peace and security. Rebecca Sako-John, a permanent commissioner with the Kaduna State Peace Commission, highlighted the vulnerability of women in conflict situations and underscored the importance of including women in decision-making processes related to security issues.
The high-level town hall meeting exemplified the significance of a collaborative, inclusive approach in addressing complex security challenges in Nigeria, fostering a collective commitment to ensure lasting peace and stability.
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