By Olukayode Michael
There is need to continue to ensure synergy and understanding between state and non-state actors in the fight against the insurgency in the North East in order for the Boko Haram crisis to be brought quickly to an end, the CLEEN Foundation has said.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of an inter-agency collaboration workshop for state and non-state actors on improving human rights compliance in countering violence extremisms, the Assistant Programme Manager, Public Safety and Security at CLEEN, Mrs Chigozirim Okoro observed that the workshop has become necessary due to the need to continue to ensure synergy and understanding between state and non-state actors in the fight against the insurgency in Borno state and the North East in General.
The two-day workshop which was held during the week in Maiduguri, was organized by CLEEN Foundation with support from Open Society Initiatives West Africa (OSIWA) and had in attendance officials of the Nigerian Army, Police, Nigerian Civil Defence Corps, the Civilian Joint Task Force, Vigilante Association, Hunters Association, the Academia, religious groups and members of the Civil Society Movement, amongst others.
Also speaking at the opening of the workshop, Okoro outlined the various activities embarked upon by CLEEN to ensure that such objectives, including engendering peace, security and human rights compliance in countering violent extremism are achieved.
She said some of these activities were baseline studies in Borno and Plateau states, capacity building programmes for security personnel and members of the Civil Society Movement.
She noted that earlier drafted were a working strategy and the strategic Implementation matrix and the development and review of a draft working strategy meant to guide security personnel on human rights compliance in countering violent extremism, amongst several other programmes.
Okoro revealed that more programmes and activities are still lined up in parts of the country by CLEEN, meant to improve on the capacity of state and non-state actors in the security architecture of the country.
Resource persons for the two day programme were drawn from the Nigerian Military, Police, the academia, the Civil Society and Government security regulatory agencies.
The presentations during the workshop covered areas such as strategic implementation matrix for preventing and countering violent extremism in Nigeria, National Action Plan 2017- 2020, legal framework and human rights accountability in Nigeria and observing rules of engagement and human rights standards in state counter insurgency strategy.
Others include strengthening human rights accountability in Nigeria and respect for human rights principles and standards in state counter insurgency strategy, amongst several other topical issues.