By Abdullahi Yusuf
The Coalition of Northern Groups(CNG) is partnering with critical stakeholders to combat insecurity bedeviling the region.
The critical stakeholders include Associations of Northern Artistes, Social Media Influencers and Bloggers.
A Communique issued at the end of an interactive session held in Kano, the CNG and the relevant stakeholders resolved to collaborate and change the narrative in addressing the security challenges facing the region, from negative to positive narratives.
The Communique said this is aimed at “dissuading the law abiding public from participating in the prevailing social vices.”
The document which was signed by the National Coordinator of the Coalition,Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, said participants of the meeting also resolved to mount collective efforts to fight kidnapping,banditry and farmer-herders conflict.
Others are cattle rustling, criminal abduction for ransom, ethno-religious tensions,stigmatization,out-of-school children, youths restiveness, political thuggery and drug abuse, among others.
They also stressed the need to forge close ties and strong synergy between and amongst all the three tiers of government in order to effectively tackle the insecurity ravaging the region.
The session also strongly emphasised the importance of deploying robust and adequate usage of the non-kinetic approach,”with a view to mobilizing the participation of the whole of society in the war against the lingering insecurity challenges.”
“Participants equally expressed the firm view, that, in line with international best practice, it is widely expected that governments at all levels must rise up to the challenge of providing tangible support and meaningful assistance to the devastated communities to facilitate their speedy recovery.
“The Interactive Session was unanimous in urging the federal government in particular, to reactivate the well-designed and people friendly programme of Rehabilitation, Resettlement and reintegration of all displaced communities throughout the region,”the meeting said.
It then urged the Federal Government in particular, to reactivate “the well-designed and people-friendly programme of Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Reintegration of all displaced communities throughout the region.”