From Ibrahim Kaulahi, Gusau
A Nongovernmental organisation has embarked on efforts to strengthen cordial relationship between the civilians and the military with a view to inculcate respect for the rules of engagement during operations by the troops and the feeling of being one by the host communities to voluntarily share out credible and intelligence information.
Speaking during a 3-day meeting organized by the CLEAN foundation in collaboration with Internal Alert (IT) held at Command guest Inn Gusau, Zamfara State capital, the director of the programme, Mr. Salauddeen Hashim, said the expectations of the meeting were to educate the troops of the Nigerian Army and the host communities on the importance of joining hands to achieve victory in the fights against banditry and other heinous crimes in the state.
Mr. Hashim stressed the need for both the military and the civilians to fully understand they have issues in common to the extent there would be smooth flow of intelligence information that would guide the maps towards conquering the targeted bandits, enclaves and their movements for the planned nasty operations on innocent communities.
He emphasized that, the mission of the foundation is to promote public safety, security and accessible justice through the strategies of empirical research, legislative advocacy, demonstration programmes and publications in partner with governments, civil society and the private sector.
Also in a paper presented by Dr. Aondowase Targba, it extensively expressed that, there is no improvement in security situation in Zamfara State due to number deficiencies comprising poor relationship between the host communities and the troops, as well as very ugly synergy amongst the security personnel.
The paper further finger pointed at traditional rulers, military officers and other security agencies and the politicians being part of the problems that deterred efforts from witnessing the end of banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling, as well as contributions paid by the informants which it described as more dangerous than the armed bandits across the affected communities in the state.