By PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
A forum of security experts in Nigeria at the weekend charged the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release all the political prisoners in custody of the Federal Government and ensure that national integration is strengthened.
The security experts made the call while brainstorming on security issues bothering the nation at the 6th Annual Security Executive Convergence organised by the Institute of Security and Strategic Studies (ISSS), which rounded off on Sunday at Transcorp Hotel, Calabar.
No fewer than 30 participants from the academia, private and public sector, para-military organizations and ECOWAS Court of Justice participated in the conference meeting.
In his remarks, the Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP (Rtd), Paddy Ogon, averred that should the federal government heed to this their appeal, the country is bound to reclaimed its past glory.
While speaking on the theme of the convergence: “Addressing Nigeria’s security challenges: Panacea for Socio Economic Development”, Mr. Ogon stressed that the essence of the security stakeholders conference is to identify challenges bedeviling the nation’s security and come up with strategies for addressing the challenges.
In a communique signed by Board Secretary of ISSS, Prof. Azeez Olaniyan and Richard Kalu of Department of State Security Services (DSS), the forum appealed for the release of political prisoners, so that federal government can concentrate on how to strengthen national integration.
Part of the communique reads, “Factors responsible for separatist agitations in Nigeria includes feelings of marginalization, faulty 1999 constitution that has not made it possible for the states to fulfill their role as component federating unit.
“Rising from insecurity, nepotism and Ineptitude of leaders, poverty, unemployment, amongst others, we recommend for provision of basic amenities to the people.
“We recommend for high level vigilance, community policing to reduce vulnerability of kidnapping.
“We call for strengthening of Joint Task force, Inter – agency security meetings, briefing, training and capacity building of personnel.
“Developing a seamless communication network amongst agencies, strengthening national security strategy”.
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