Following the security challenges in Plateau State as well other parts of the country, stakeholders and experts have called for a synergy between security agencies and the various communities.
The call was made in Jos the State State capital at the African Peace Institute for Social Research (APISR), two-day conference to strengthen collaboration between citizens and security agencies in Plateau.
Speaking at the meeting, the meeting, the lead presenter, Brigadier John Temlong (rtd), tasked the government on taking the reports, resolutions/ recommendations of stakeholders seriously.
He stressed that sometimes the authorities usually do not participate in such programmes, or even when they participate don’t stay till the end of such programmes, or even when they do, they will not work with the policy reports or recommendations and policy framework.
He called for a change of attitude in this regard if the fight against insecurity would yield good results.
In his remarks, the Director-General of APISR, Prof. Danladi Atu, said they are strategizing on how to bridge the gap between citizens and security agencies for safer and more cohesive communities.
Prof. Atu, who was also the immediate past Secretary to the Plateau State government, pointed out that the citizens have a critical role to play in ensuring peace and stability, and that the collaboration and trust between communities and law enforcement agencies cannot be overemphasized.
On his part, the Chairman of the event and the immediate past Senate President and senator representing Yobe North, Ahmad Lawan, expressed optimism that the stakeholders would come up with recommendations on how to sustain peace and ensure development in Nigeria.
Represented by Prof. Suleiman Mohammed, Lawan tasked the stakeholders on ensuring that they find a pathway to resolving all the security challenges.
The conference titled, ‘Community Security Initiatives for Sustainable Peace and Development in Africa’, brought together policymakers, security experts, civil society leaders, among others.