By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Borno State Ministry of Information and Internal Security in collaboration with International Alert have organised a two-day expert meeting to dialogue on patterns of violence, injustice and criminality in the northern part of the country.
A statement issued on Monday and signed by the State Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Professor Mohammed Usman Tar and made available to newsmen in Maiduguri, said the event was aimed at understanding and finding sustainable solutions on the “Exit Pathways out of Violence, Criminality and Injustice.”
He added that the meeting promoted peer learning among stakeholders in the North-West and North-East, where participants from the North West applauded the presentations of the team from Borno State represented by Dr. Mairo Mandara, who presented a keynote on the Borno Model for Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Reintegration of Repentant Boko Haram insurgent, an exit programme championed by Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State.
According to him, the two days deliberations achieved some milestones including the need to adopt the Borno Model of Reconciliation and managing mass exit by other States of the north and the imperative of adopting a common multi-actor platform for security dialogue and cooperation as obtained in the northwestern region.
The states of northeast were also enjoined to consider establishing a regional forum for security dialogue in the region where security stakeholders will meet to discuss and proffer solutions to the security challenges being encountered in the sub region.
The Borno State delegation comprised of the State Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar; Dr. Mairo Mandara, Chief Adviser to Governor Zulum on Humanitarian Affairs, Partnerships and Sustainable Development; the Special Adviser to Governor Zulum on Security, Affairs, Brig. Gen. Abdullahi Ishaq (rtd);
Others include members of the academia, Representatives of the Military and vigilante groups among other critical stakeholders.
The teams from the northwest include Mr Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner for Internal Security, Kaduna State, Brig. Gen. Saad Abubakar, Chairman Advisers and Commissioners of Security Forum; Alh. Musa Garba Bukkuyum, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Zamfara State.
Also in attendance were Mr. Dapo Oyewole, Senior Special Assistant to the President on International Cooperation; Dr. Bridget Osakwe, Coordinator West Africa Network for Peacebuilding among other key stakeholders.
The highlights of the event include presentation of papers, discussions on a framework for the development of a behavioral change strategy and advocacy planning framework that is to be implemented through joint advocacy and engagement among critical actors; and a proposal for the establishment of a Regional Forum of Commissioners, Special Advisers and Other Critical stakeholders on security.
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