The Secretary to the Federal Government (SFG), Senator George Akume has said the Federal Government in collaboration with the State Governments in the North East Geo-Political Zone have introduced some far-reaching measures, (kinetic and non-kinetic), aimed at finding lasting solution to these security challenges.
The SGF also commended our gallant forces for effectively safeguarding our territorial integrity across the country while acknowledging the Armed Forces of Nigeria for sustaining the military onslaught on armed bandits’ enclaves in the country.
Senator Akume who stated this Thursday at a two day stakeholders engagement workshop themed,” sustaining post conflict recovery through effective peace building and reconciliation initiative”, held at the Multi purpose Hall of the Government House Maiduguri, Thursday.
He said through the efforts of the Nigerian military and vigilante groups, substantial successes have been recorded through these efforts and strategic engagement.
He further revealed that in line with Nigeria’s adherence to international human rights rules, thousands of captured and surrendered insurgents are undergoing rehabilitation preparatory to reintegration into the community.
The SGF also observed that “, 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 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”.
According to him, the workshop was apt as an important stakeholders’ engagement on the dynamics of the current security challenges in the North East Geo-Political Zone, taking place in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria’s Home of Peace.
*The choice of Borno was strategic considering the significance of the State not only as the hub of the North East Geo-Political Zone but, transit corridor for trans-border commerce.
“As you are all aware, Nigeria and indeed the West African Sub-Region has been grappling with different dimensions of internal and cross border security challenges. These challenges have resulted in loss of valuable lives of the citizenry, displacements of several communities as well as the destruction of property worth billions of Naira.
“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”, he said.
On his part, The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum said the workshop was aimed at achieving the following objectives: availing government with the opportunity to inform the people of the North East Geo-Political Zone of its efforts, challenges and achievements towards addressing the security challenges and the activities of the various Non-Community Based Security outfits.
He added that it was targeted at providing a Forum to exchange ideas between the Government and the people in the North East Geo-Political Zone on how best to address the security challenges and the activities of the various Non-State Community Based Security outfits as well to 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.
The governor, represented by the Head of Services, Barrister Fannami Malami, said the workshop will help sensitize the communities in the North East Geo-Political Zone on how they can play complementary role in fighting insecurity and other vices as well enable the adoption of Community-Based security solutions in addressing security challenges and improving on our recovery efforts and peace building processes of the unique Borno Model concept that has been initiated and being implemented successfully and positively
He added also that 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.