NEEM Foundation meets stakeholders on trans Sahara counterterrorism in Sokoto
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
A Non Governmental Organization, NEEM Foundation, Wednesday, organized a one day dialogue on Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism in the North Western States of Nigeria.
The meeting which brought together Sokoto State Actors towards promoting civilian security in the northwestern region, had “State Actors Buy-in and Collaboration,” as its theme.
Stating the objectives of the Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Project, Mrs. Abah Comfort, the Programme Officer from NEEM Foundation noted amongst others that, it is aimed at promoting civilian security in the Northwestern region of Nigeria through, “Dialogue, Early Warning, Early Response, Economic and Support to Community members.”
While appealing for a participatory session to enable them proffer workable solutions to the multiple degrees of insecurity confronting the society and the North Western region of the country in particular, Mrs. Abah noted that they are also working on, “Prevent and Protect” and “Gender Based Violence (GBV)” in addition to Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism.
Mrs. Abah, who decried the disturbing trend of banditry, kidnappings, cattle rustling as well as consistent crisis between farmers and herders in the region and other parts of the country, assured that the project is centered on building trust and increased service provision in communities at risk of violent extremism through increased collaboration between state and non state actors.
She also added that NEEM Foundation Project has set up Peace and Reconciliation Committees in four communities of Sokoto, targets 80 communities, is training 60 community members on early warning and violence de-escalation.
Continuing, Mrs. Abah said the Project provides livelihood support for 30 vulnerable people, engages 15 others in youths and women at risk
entrepreneurship skills training, provides livelihood support for three cooperatives and engages one local business in training livelihood beneficiaries.
One of the participants and Sokoto State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon Muhammed Mainasara, in his contribution as one of the panelists said there should be hard and soft security measures towards addressing the security challenges of the region.
Discussing “Understanding the Dynamics of Conflicts in the Northwest”, Hon. Mainasara said the soft security measures can only be carried out by the locals themselves while the security agencies carry out the hard measures.
He also suggested knowing your neighbour as the best option to forestalling insecurity.
In his views on the second panel discussion with the topic, “State Actors’ Role in Promoting Civilian Security,” Malam Mohammed Maigero, the Sokoto State Sharia Director from the Ministry of Religious Affairs suggested youths empowerment, addressing the issue of porous borders in the region as well as increasing sensitization amongst herders/farmers on the need for peaceful coexistence as strategies.
Participants at the one day workshop included traditional and religious leaders, security agencies, representatives of MIYETTI ALLAH, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Sokoto Youth Council, Vigilante Group, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, and that of State Emergency Management Agency and select journalists.
