Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The Federal Government must adopt policies that address the economic migrants, refugees and the failures in sustainable human development caused by terrorism in the Northeast.
Human development failures have already spread to the neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroon and Niger in the Lake Chad region.
Unveiling the challenges to detect and prevent crimes, yesterday (Monday), at a three-training organised by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for registered private security agents and personnel, Mohammed Gana Dass, in paper titled: “Role of Registered Private Security Agents in Strengthening Good Citizenship, Crime Detection and Prevention,” disclosed: “The 13-year Boko Haram terrorism led to economic backwardness with increased poverty, unemployment and displacement of 2.5 million people.”
He noted that to overcome the political effects of insurgency to stabilize the economic foundation and well-being of the people; the image of the Muslims are to be redeemed; as extremists and fundamentalists.
“This is detrimental to national interest,” he warned.
In bringing together security practitioners from all private security commands/sectors to develop practices, and equip them with the skills they require in tackling or addressing violent extremism and terrorism in the society.
To strengthen cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and practices between the different stakeholders taking part in the prevention of violent conflict, radicalization, terrorism and violent extremism.
According to him, survivors of Boko Haram insurgency are afraid of sending their children to schools, because of security challenges.
Continued; “The security challenges in Nigeria are not the threats of terrorists’ propagation for Sharia, but the confusions of the exact causes of the violence,” adding that they include socioeconomic, political and religious factors.
On crimes prevention, he said that efforts be made to checkmate the nationals with illegal dual citizenship.
He added that the remunerations of the private security personnel be reviewed, so as to motivate their productivity and information gathering.
According to him, the remuneration could also help the personnel detect and prevent terrorism in the region.
He warned that private security personnel must desist from activities, so that the public could repose confidence in them.
Besides, he added that governments at all levels should ensure the reversal of poverty and unemployment levels in the region.
Speaking on radicalization, Musa Yakubu, at the training themed: “The role of informal security operatives in fighting insecurity in the Northeast,” said that targeted groups for the training include associations and committees of vigilantes, security, peace, hunters, anti-banditry and community police.
According to him, they are to provide assistance in the maintenance of law and order in the six states of the region.
He said that they will also identify the early warning signs of extremism, violent conflict, radicalization and terrorism.
“Threats of violent extremism and terrorism have increased recently to become more interwoven at local, regional and international levels,” he lamented
He noted that private security personnel and the volunteers lacked formal training to combat violent conflicts, terrorism, radicalization and extremists behaviours.
