WASHINGTON plans to host a three-day Nigerian security workshop between March 17 and 19 during which US foreign affairs and defence officials who host governors from across northern Nigeria to debate the Boko Haram crisis. Keen to bring about an end to the ongoing activities of the terrorist sect, the US plans to brainstorm with governors across northern Nigeria this week. One of the US agencies will anchor the talk shop which will hold in Washington DC, which will also debate insecurity in other parts of Africa. Governors Magatakarda Wamakko, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Murtala Nyako of Sokoto, Kano and Adamawa States have already agreed to participate in the programme. They will be expected to give reports on the recent spate of intense fighting across northern Nigeria that has led to the death of about 500 people over the last week. One of the organisers said: “Our workshop will provide an important opportunity for Nigerian governors to inform and discuss with US government officials on current economic, social and security challenges in the region.” Governor Wamakko said he agreed to attend the programme in the US because the state of insecurity in Nigeria has reached an alarming level. He stressed that addressing it required a lot of effort from all the tiers of government in Nigeria. “I was invited to the symposium just like my other colleagues and I felt that going there to say how it is in Nigeria is what would help us to galvanise international support for combating the menace of terrorism in our place of origin. The programme, no doubt, affords an opportunity for those of us from Nigeria to rub minds with experts on security matters, with a view to finding practicable solutions to the growing influence insurgency in our region, Governor Wamakko added. He noted that no amount of effort made by Nigerian leaders to contain terrorism would be considered too high or too little. However, he advised that all hands must be on deck for Nigeria to surmount the security challenges, adding that while the government of Sokoto State had designed different measures towards a containing the menace of terrorism, Nigerian leaders in general must wake up to the necessity of joining hands to tackle the problem early enough. Hailing what he described as the brave performances by the Nigerian military for repressing insurgency in the affected parts of the north, Governor Wamakko urged the federal government to start paying full attention to the menace of terrorism. Over the last week, the Nigerian military has enjoyed some success against Boko Haram, smashing some of its camps, killing dozens of its members and confiscating a large cache of arms and about 70 vehicles.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 14:45:50 +0000
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