Story from Sa’adatu MAINA, Damaturu
President of the Nigeria Political Science Association (NPSA), Prof. Aloysius Okolie, on Tuesday, called on the Federal Government to ensure protection for individuals who release credible information to the security operatives to tackle insurgency.
Okolie disclosed this in Damaturu at the Third Annual Conference of NPSA (North-East Zone) with the theme: “Security Challenges and Governance: Insurgency and the Search for Sustainable Peace in North-East Nigeria in the era of Pandemic”.
He said if the security of whistleblowers was guaranteed, many people, especially in the North-East, would be willing to expose insurgents in their midst.
The President also called on governments at all levels to work on restoring confidence in governance as a critical factor in tackling insurgency in the country.
Okolie, represented by NPSA’s Vice President, Prof. Hassan Salihu, noted that the refusal of members of the public to assist security operatives with information about the insurgents was partly caused by a lack of confidence in governance.
“In the past, people will defend the government and its property at all times; why is that not happening now?
“As long as there is a gap between government and the people, you will find out that the people will sometimes prefer to give information to the insurgents instead of the government.
“A good management journey must be embarked upon by government and its people simultaneously; each part must complement the other.
“When people are carried along, their interest and means of livelihood are protected, they will join the government in finding a lasting solution to insurgency,” he said.
In a keynote address, Dr Ali Abbas, Focal Person, North-East Development Commission, noted that over 30,000 persons died and many more were either displaced or injured as a result of insurgency in the North-East.
He identified unemployment among youths, the existence of porous borders, radicalisation of youths and injustice as some of the causes of insurgency.
He recommended rehabilitation, reintegration and resettlement of internally displaced persons as necessary factors.
Going forward, Prof. Mala Daura, Vice-Chancellor, Yobe State University, Damaturu, charged the academians to come up with solutions to the lingering Insurgency in the zone.
He said the institution approved the conference in view of the significance of security to the zone and the country at large.
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