Bishop Kukah Centre in collaboration with a Non-governmental organisation Global Right has organised high-level town meetings to discuss issues that promote peace and security in North Western part of Nigeria.
Speaking at the meeting, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Kukah, said the meeting was convened considering the security challenges facing the region.
Kukah explained that sectionalism, fanatism, injustice, and religious intolerance were responsible for insecurity in the country.
He said; “You know most of this problem at times is as a result of proper understanding of our religion, when we are dealing with ourselves we should know we are dealing with Nigerians not religion,” he noted.
Kukah maintained that governments have a role to play not only by giving money, but by providing effective communication in building dialogue.
He further urged stakeholders at the meeting to work together to form common front in curbing the menace as insecurity cut across all religion.
Also, the Sokoto State Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu, said his administration has made deliberate efforts in promoting peace and security across 23 local government areas of the state.
Governor Aliyu who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Religious Affairs, Abubakar Toronkawa, reiterated that “youth and women empowerment, job creation and frequent security meeting is part of the efforts put in place by his administration to tackle insecurity.”
He further explained that his administration would continue to support any initiative geared toward promoting peace and social development.
Also speaking the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar the III, thanked Kukah Centre and Global Right for organizing the meeting.
Sultan Abubakar represented by Sa’in Kilgori, Dr. Muhammad Jabbi, explained that bad governance, injustice, and inequality were some factors contributing to insecurity.
He called on all relevant stakeholders to continue to fight together, cooperate with security agencies for the overall peace and security of the nation.
Also, the Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, Ali Kaigama, said; “Police through its community policing strategy would continue to engage stakeholders in its effort towards peacebuilding in the country.”
CP Kaigama who was represented by DCP Ibrahim Adamu, further said that Nigeria police would continue to strengthen partnership with the Nigerian Army and other sister security agencies in tackling insecurity bedeviling the country.
He urged religious and traditional institutions to always put security issues first as security iseveryone’se business.
Some Stakeholders that spoke at the meeting lamented institutional failure for security challenges facing the nation.
They said that corruption, economic hardship, poverty, and unemployment were responsible for insecurity in the country.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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