Stakeholders at the International Symposium on “Pathways to Enhance Security and Conflict Resolution – North-West Nigeria and the Middle East Perspective” have brainstormed on measures to address the challenges in the regions.
This development, detailed in a communique issued to newsmen in Sokoto on Saturday, aligned with the mandate of the Centre for Peace Studies at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS).
The communique, signed by the Symposium Chairman, Dr Abubakar Mohammed and its Director, Professor Muhammad Usman, emphasised the centre’s role in research, interventions, and seeking solutions to social, economic, and political crises.
The stakeholders recognised the rise of community-based security outfits as a response to the state’s insufficient security measures.
“The insecurity challenges in the North-West region of Nigeria stemmed from abject poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and inadequate provision of social and economic infrastructure by the governments.
“Similarly, the conflict in the Middle East revolves around land and nationhood issues, complex since the immigration of the Jews and the creation of Israel,” the statement said.
The communique recommended inclusive composition and operational activities for community-based security outfits, free from ethnic and socio-cultural differences.
It urged policymakers at all government levels in Nigeria to urgently address poverty, unemployment and lack of infrastructure to tackle insecurity in the North-West region.
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The statement emphasised the need for North-West state governments to promptly establish a regional security outfit to complement conventional security agencies in combating insecurity.
It stressed the urgency of implementing peace resolution agreements, especially the two-state solution in the Middle East, under the supervision of the United Nations.
It also called for sincere international mediation to address outstanding contentious issues in the Middle East conflict.
The document acknowledged the symposium as a successful academic endeavour, encouraging the centre to organise more activities contributing to national and international peace-building and conflict resolution.
