A summit on forging a new path for Northern Nigeria to collectively unite against insecurity has been held in Kaduna, North West of the country.
Organised by the Arewa Cohesion for Peace, Unity and Development Initiative, the Summit themed “Unity, Cooperation and Collective Action Against Insecurity featured paper presentations by the academia and security experts.
Professor Murtala Ahmed Rufa’i from the Office of the National Security Advisor dwelt on ” Building Lasting Peace in Northern Nigeria: Addressing Banditry, Insurgency and Communal conflicts, while Professor Andrew Haruna , Secretary General, Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities spoke on “Youth Empowerments, a Strategy For Preventing Violence, Extremism and Insecurity in Northern Nigeria.
In his paper, Prof. Rufa’i highlighted the role of stakeholders including government officials, security personnel and traditional rulers suggesting that government should evolve destabilization strategy that would create anti- terrorism, anti-banditry and communal conflicts prevention.
Security agencies, he said, should establish intelligence policing and permanent joint coordination mechanism across affected States.
States, he emphasized, should institutionalise community base early warning and early response with the involvement of traditional rulers, women and youths.
On his part, Professor Haruna said no amount of efforts by government could wipe out insecurity in the country except through education.
The university Don was of the view that if children are well educated, they would work hard to realize their ambition.
Prof. Haruna lamented that the culture of almajiriship in the North has produced poverty hence the need to give priority to education of children.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the Director General of the Initiative, Dr. Abdullah Idris said the summit was their strategic intervention to transform rhetoric into results and complaints into actionable solutions. “We must rebuild the broken trust and synchronize our efforts to protect our people through high-level coordination and local vigilance”, he emphasized
The Director General noted with concern that for too long, the region has bled under the shadows of insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping which have fractured their social fabric and stifled their potential.
“Our objectives are uncompromising. We will come up with strategies for honest dialogue between communities and the state. We will recommend the best ways to dismantle the drivers of conflict, from economic despair to the erosion of traditional values.
We are institutionalizing quarterly dialogues and a network of Community Peace and Youth Ambassadors to ensure our work today transforms our reality tomorrow.
“The path to peace is rigorous, but it is the only path to our future. Let this Summit redefine the North, from a narrative of crisis to one of fierce resilience. Let us build a region where children walk without fear, where farmers sow in security, and where every community thrives. Let our actions today echo the enduring spirit of “One North, One Voice.” the DG concludes.
The Summit had a panel of discussion featuring Professor Abdulahamid Ozohu- Suleiman , Director Abuja Leadership Centre, University of Abuja, Dr, Joseph Lengmang , Former and Pioneer Director General, Plateau State Peace building Agency and Professor Hauwa Evelyn, Vice Chancellor, Unique Open University Lagos.
The Sultan of Sokoto and the Emir of Kano were represented by the Ciroman Kano, Aminu Lamido Sanusi while the Bunun Zazau, Alhaji Tijjani represented the Emir of Zazau.
