Coalition of Civil Society Organisations have called on the Federal Government to expand its post insurgency strategy to include civil society organisations, media and all relevant stakeholders in the counter insurgency ideology and re-orientation programme in the North East region.
This was contained in a communique issued by the groups after a one-day Civil Society Colloquium organised by the Africa Media RoundTable Initiative in collaboration with Africa Coalition of Media and Civil Society Organisations, at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja.
The orgasnisations also recommended the military and the Nigerian police force de-radicalization program be reviewed to meet present day realities, even as they suggested the involvement of civil society organisations, media and relevant stakeholders be engage in educating and enlighting people of the North east during the de-radicalization process.
They commended the Nigeria Army and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, for the successes of the troops in the war against terrorists.
The communique stated: “ That the time to begin a holistic infrastructural, social economic and psychological rebuilding of the region is now; and the federal government and affected state government must as a matter of urgency begin a comprehensive and far reaching youth and women empowerment program that will engage the people of the area involved in line with international best practices.
“Nigeria Army and other security agencies, should promote a pro-active strategy to insurgency in Nigeria to forestall future insurgency re-occurrences.
“That the federal government should support intensively the Nigerian Military (especially the Nigerian Army) in terms of logistics and finance so as to be equipped with adequate knowledge and strategy in confronting such battle in case of any future occurrences.
“That the federal government through it relevant agencies should ensure prompt and adequate care for the internally displaced persons (IDPs).”
The groups also commended the military for their adherence to the rules of engagement throughout its engagement in the task.
“We especially commend the operation lafiya Dole team for their land mark victory over the Boko Haram insurgents and finally resolved and recommend the Africa Coalition of civil society award of the millennium Hero on Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the chief of Army at a later date,” the group said.
