Stakeholders and experts in the Security industry have called on the governors of the South East to collaborate more in the implementation of regional security initiatives.
The stakeholders urged the governors to take a cue from their counterparts in the South-West in finding a lasting solution to insecurity and criminality in the South East, by establishment and regulation of a state-backed security outfits such as Agunechemba, as well as special or tactical units of the police such as Rapid Response Squad in Anambra, Tiger Base in Imo State, which must operate within the confines of human rights and legal frameworks.
They made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day South-East stakeholders summit On peace and security and public hearing on human rights violations, held in Enugu.
The communiqué which was signed by Sabastine Anyia for the Nigeria Bar Association and Okechukwu Nwanguma for the CSOs, recommended the setting up of a Human Right Bureau and the adoption of a collaborative security framework.
It also recommended the establishment of a structured legal framework to oversee litigation efforts, with dedicated lawyers from the states handling legal proceedings just as a formal structure will be put in place to ensure accountability, including regular meetings to assess progress, escalate critical issues, and coordinate responses.
Additionally, the stakeholders recommended strengthening arms control measures to curb illegal flow of weapons into the Southeast, ensuring stricter enforcement and monitoring of supply routes.
Enhance border security and intelligence-sharing mechanisms to prevent the proliferation of arms and restrict access by criminal elements.
Implement robust community policing strategies to improve trust between security agencies and local populations while ensuring respect for human rights.
The stakeholders also recommended strengthening the Southeast Governor’s Forum to serve as a mechanism for monitoring security activities in the region, pulling resources and strengthening the surveillance system in the region amongst others.
The stakeholders frowned at the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu which breaches the rule of law by persistently ignored calls by diverse stakeholders, including some Southeast state governors and legislators, for his release in compliance with court orders and to embrace dialogue and engagement as means of de-escalation and just resolution.
In conclusion, participants at the summit reaffirmed their commitment to sustained engagement with stakeholders across government and non-government sectors to keep security and human rights issues in the Southeast at the forefront of national discourse. They emphasized the need for a continuous and coordinated approach to security governance, urging authorities to adopt long-term strategies that transcend political transitions.
