Stakeholders in the Northeast region have advocated for the use of a non-kinetic approach to end insurgency and insecurity in the region and Nigeria at large.
This was the position of journalists and civil society organisations (CSOs) at a three-day workshop/training program organised by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) in collaboration with Real Global Services Limited held in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The groups urged the government to adopt non-kinetic approaches, such as dialogue and strategic communication, to tackle the persistent insecurity in Nigeria’s insurgency-affected North-East region.
The event, held in Maiduguri, according to the NEDC, aims to equip participants with the skills and strategies to adopt in addressing the challenges of operating in the region.
Speaking at the workshop, NEDC’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Abba Musa, represented by Naomi Abwaku, highlighted the limitations of military solutions.
“Kinetic measures have not yielded the desired results. This training underscores the importance of peacebuilding and partnerships in addressing insurgency,” Musa stated.
NEDC Managing Director Goni Alkali, represented by Sani Umar, Director of Rehabilitation and Early Recovery, declared the workshop open, emphasising the media’s critical role in fostering societal awareness and stability.
Abubakar Kudu, the workshop organiser, lauded the NEDC’s dedication to fostering non-violent solutions. “This initiative is designed to empower CSOs and journalists to champion non-kinetic approaches to insurgency and promote peacebuilding,” he said.
Representing the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) National President, Alhassan Yahya, Abdulkareem Haruna commended the initiative, stressing the importance of dialogue and communication in tackling modern security challenges.
“Equipping journalists with the right skills and knowledge is critical for addressing modern challenges. Dialogue and strategic communication are vital tools in the fight against insurgency,” Yahya stated.
Professor Umar Pate, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Kashere, delivered a keynote presentation on “Conflict-Sensitive Reporting: Principles and Best Practices,” urging journalists to remain objective and avoid biases in their work.
“Communication has become regionalised with sentiments and stereotypes fuelled by wrong sources. As journalists, you must rise above such biases,” Pate advised.
The NEDC leadership reiterated that the workshop symbolises its commitment to fostering peace and stability in the North-East through innovative, collaborative, and non-destructive approaches.”
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