Kaduna, others move to tackle insecurity in Kamuku Forest

• CITAD presents book on insurgency

To ensure that residents of Kaduna and four other neighbouring states enjoy lasting peace, the governments have decided to come together to fight terrorism and other criminal acts in the forest at their boundary.

Specifically, the Kaduna State government is working in collaboration with Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi and Niger states to design a collective approach to tackling security challenges posed by the Kamuku Forest.

The governors of the five states around the dangerous Kamuku Forest, where series of criminal activities have been taking place for years, have moved to prevent what they fear might breed future Boko Haram.

The governors met in Kaduna at the weekend to brainstorm on ways of addressing the security threats posed by the forest. Even though the resolution of the meeting was not made open after the meeting held behind closed doors in the Kaduna State Government House, the host governor, Nasir El-Rufai told journalists that their discussion was mainly on security of their states.

According El-Rufai, “the forest which is in the middle of Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara has been of serious security concern. So, we need to address it because that forest is capable of breeding future Boko Haram. “We have just met to brainstorm with a view to fashioning out a coordinated approach in tackling the security challenges in our states. This has become necessary to avoid spill over. We met with security chiefs in charge of our respective states so that we can as quickly as possible bring an end to the loss of lives, cattle rustling and loss of property”, El-Rufai said.

He said the five governors have full support of the Federal Government in their move to secure the states. “Kaduna State has briefed and updated the president on the security challenges, and the president has pledged Federal Government’s support for the comprehensive security plan.”

Meanwhile, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has presented to the public a research work documented into a book to help find lasting solution to the human rights violations caused by the insurgency in the northern part of the country.

The book titled “Insurgency and Human Rights in Northern Nigeria” was presented in Kano, at the weekend.

According to the Executive Director of the CITAD, Comrade Ya’u Zakari Ya’u, the book is a product of a study on the victims of both insurgency and alleged state-backed human rights violations. “Before embarking on the gigantic work, we visited some prominent traditional rulers especially in the North East zone devastated by the insurgency. We also visited some other prominent people from other parts of the North,” Yau disclosed.

He said the work was done to promote peace and national unity in the country. He revealed that their areas of study for the research were Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Kano, Plateau and Abuja.

“We also started by observing that the nation was ravaged by various forms of violence, especially in the Northeast. While in some parts of North West people are suffering from banditry and cattle rustling, in the South South and South East, the menace of kidnapping is rampant. All these violence threaten national unity,” he said. Ya’u said restoration of peace is the responsibility of all. “It is pertinent to note that establishment of connection between the victims and other people in the society is paramount, “ he stated.

While condemning human rights abuses perpetuated by the Boko Haram members, he condemned any form of human rights abuse manifested in the name of protecting lives and property by security agents.

The CITAD boss said his centre was doing what it thought could ginger people to rise and mobilize for a peaceful society.

“In the course of this research work, we were able to get over 300 voices of some influential emirs, community leaders, celebrities and other critical stakeholders,” Ya’u said. The centre promised to help in ensuring that the stem of insurgency is uprooted. “The main root or cause for this insurgency is abject poverty and ignorance. Very soon, we are, in conjunction with other stakeholders, organising a summit for the North East, all in an effort to deal with the critical period of violence facing the nation, “ he emphasised.