Northern govs urged to focus on home-grown solutions to tackle insecurity

From Okwe Obi, Abuja

Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development, have encouraged governors from the Northern stock to focus on home-grown solutions to tackle insecurity bedeviling the region.

The group specifically identified corruption, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, poor governance, weak judicial system, weak security apparatus, porous borders, drug abuse, weak traditional institutions, influx of illegal Fulani aliens through land borders and proliferation of small, as the cause of insecurity.

Its Executive Director, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, in a statement yesterday, said it was sad that insecurity has taken over the region when the North West had the highest number of Inspector Generals of Police and national security advisers

Shinkafi said: “State governors in the zone should proffer home-grown solutions involving traditional rulers, religious leaders, leaders of Fulani association and leaders of farmers association to engage in peace dialogue with bandits who are willing to lay down their arms unconditionally and be reintegrated into the society.

“Social amenities should be provided in most of the Fulani settlements including ranches, grazing reserves, cattle routes, farm settlement, veterinary clinics, portable water, access roads, schools and cattle breeding loans.

“Governors in the region should be proactive and create jobs for the youth to reduce unemployment and poverty.

“Zamfara, Kaduna and Funtua textile industries should be revived along with other small and medium industries. Agriculture and solid minerals in the region should be developed to create jobs.

“There should be a death penalty for armed banditry and related offences duly passed by State Houses of Assembly in the region. The judicial system should be overhauled for expeditious prosecution of suspects.

“Governors should constitute peace and security trust funds to support security operations in various states including Niger State in North Central which shares border with Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina and Kaduna States.

“The security trust funds should be used to purchase patrol vehicles, pay security allowances, fuel and maintain vehicles, procure communication gadgets etc.

“There should be total overhaul of security agents and operations in the borders. Modern security equipment should be provided including scanners, CCTV, surveillance drones, communication gadgets, operational vehicles and quarters in the border areas.

“With these proactive measures peace and security will be restored in the North West geopolitical zone. It is time for action. Citizens are weary of empty rhetoric by leaders in the region.”