The continued insurgency in parts of Northern Nigeria by the militant terrorist sect Boko Haram is worrisome to Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN). The resultant casualties and human rights abuses associated with the attacks and poor government’s response bothers the civil society group.
NOPRIN Foundation is a network of 46 civil society organisations spread across Nigeria and committed to promoting police accountability and respect for human rights. It was established in 2000 to provide opportunity for civil society involvement in police reform and the enhancement of safety, security and justice.
According to OkechukwuNwanguma, the National Coordinator of the Network, “while terrorist activities continue to assume increasing sophistication, targeting men and women, the young and the old – even inthe states where government has imposed emergency rule, their source of sustenance and the goals they seek to achieve are not yet clear.” The Civil Society Organisation believes that dealing with terrorism requires a multidisciplinary approach.
NOPRIN suggests that cultivating critical constituencies in security is a solution in part to the present problem.Its recommendation for considerationbythe civil society delegation to the National Conference includes academic research into the extreme group, engagement of the dreaded group’s feedercommunitieswith a view to restoring/building public confidence and cooperation with thepolice/security forces, provision of victim support services and documentation of the killings.
Others include the need forsecurity agencies to cultivate the media to report incidents rightly, timely and reliable intelligence by security agencies, and creation of jobs by the organised private sector amongst others.
The National Conference which begins of the 17th of March, 2014 is expected to last three months. 492 delegates from various groups and interests are expected to participate at the conference.
Story By; Sola Fago
