The Federal Government and security Agencies should build relationships with communities to effectively tackle insecurity.
The plea was made by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, at a focus group discussion on the Barriers and Bridges To Security Accountability in Nigeria held at Ikeja, Lagos.
Its Executive Director, Auwal Musa, Rafsanjani, said Jihadist violence in Nigeria and the broader Lake Chad Basin is, at best, protracted and that for twelve years, communities in the region have been raided, with the human population sacked and plunged into depths of humanitarian crisis.
He said Nigeria’s military forces have unrelentingly waged war against the insurgents, yet there is no clear end in sight as annihilated insurgency groups are re-emerging, posing new threats and continuing old terrors.
Musa however suggested that the government put more effort into bridging the relationship gap between the people and security agencies as a form of intelligence gathering to aid the fighting of insecurity.
“In 2022, bandits, now officially classified as terrorists by the Nigerian government, are still attacking communities and leaving trails of bodies, blood and ruin behind. Therefore, it is unsurprising for some community stakeholders to ask for the elimination of bandits. However, that is not enough.
“Government must push for more community buy-in. Lagos is gradually witnessing pockets of attacks as predicted by this program some years ago. The connivance of some residents who serve as informants for bandits undermines security operations.
“Therefore, the Nigerian government should deploy measures to bring communities closer to the government, especially security agencies.
“In addition, awareness campaigns to gather support for the Nigerian forces combating bandits would help improve civil-military relations.
“From news reports, vested interests and other sentimental issues appear to be triggering violence in the region. Military efforts may seem like the best solution to the issue of banditry, but paying close attention to the socio-economic and socio-cultural dimensions of the conflict is equally important in building peace and stability in the area.
“Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), in collaboration with Transparency International-Defence and Security with the support from Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has worked collectively to institutionalize an accountable system that is vibrant, robust and effective.
“One of the expected deliverables for today would be to highlight gaps within the existing architecture, with clearer information to monitor track and report gaps within the protection framework, processes, practices and spending.
“Beyond community buy-in, security and human capital development should also be prioritised in the flashpoints. Although community buy-in will help improve combative efforts through access to local intelligence, increasing development assistance for crisis-impacted communities will address the consequences of armed banditry on the population.
“In addition, the development intervention will help present a good image of the Nigerian state and equally set the pathway for state-community relations. Accountability helps build the confidence and legitimacy needed to overcome societal mistrust.
“The latest report holds that the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) is regrouping. ISWAP, a 2016 splinter group from Boko Haram, is allegedly better funded, more educated and deadlier security concern for the country.
“The group’s strategy can be argued to be more focused on hard targets in its bid to destroy the Nigerian state’s presence and, in its place, establish an Islamic caliphate.
“In 2019, the Federal Government of Nigeria alleged that some Nigerians were helping bandits to evade capture. In 2022, the wave may have shifted. Some traditional rulers now want them killed.
“The reasons may be simple. Banditry is a top security issue in Nigeria. About 2,334 people died in 935 events recorded in 2021. Communities in the northwest and northcentral Nigeria have seen the worst of the menace.” he said.
CISLAC Executive Director also emphasised that since the implementation of the project, CISLAC has worked closely with various Ministries, Department and Agencies of government as well as CSOs at state and national level.
“Defence agencies and media in delivering on the project outcomes. This has led to the formation of various policy shifts.
“In conclusion, allow me state clearly that some communities in northern Nigeria have known bandits’ violence, lived with it and engaged it. Do we want to also wait for that scenario to begin to play out in other regions?
“Indeed, bandits have grown in audacity, the tempo of attacks and have transitioned to a top security threat in Nigeria. In some instances, bandits impose levies on communities, send letters of warning and impending bloodletting.
“The scenario in many flashpoints affected by bandits is anguish, brutish life, forced evictions from households, deprivation from livelihood sources and a seemingly unending humanitarian crisis.
“About 2,334 people died in 935 events recorded in 2021. Should we expect fatal attacks in 2022 or more coordinated approach? We all are here to answer these questions.” he said.
He spoke through CISLAC Board Member, Barr. Adesina Oke.