The Advocacy Centre for Development (AC4D) has attributed lack of commitment from Nigerian leaders to end insecurity bedeviling the country.

This was contained in a communique issued to newsmen by Saidu Bappa Malala at the end of a one day round table engagement with stakeholders on national day of mourning held in Gombe.

The communique said the convener and team lead of the centre Ibrahim Yusuf 3000, highlighted the objectives of the program with a view to finding lasting solutions to the alarming rates of incessant killings, kidnappings for ransom, violence and other forms of atrocities in the country.

Ibrahim Yusuf also said “The incessant killing of 2545 security officers and 17, 886 civilians as well as abduction of 15597 persons from 2019 to 2023 across the country and the clear absence of political will or leadership to bring this to an end is worrisome”.

The communique further reads:

“The surge in atrocities against women, children, People with disability, students, teachers and the most vulnerable, schools and institutions of learning have been targeted to elimination and the government appears unable and unwilling to take urgent action in protecting these demographics.

The armed forces are deployed in all 36 states of Nigeria on internal security operations, thereby retrenching the constitutional role of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). This is a constitutional anomaly. The rise in fatalities from military operations shows that the military is over-stretched, this cannot continue.

Here in Gombe state we are have issues of Farmer/harder clashes in some communities of the state during the rainy season and we are calling on the state government and the security agencies and the traditional institutions to do the needful without fear or favor by putting an end to the issues of unrest in the state.

We also appreciate the efforts of the state Governor for his proactive approach for establishing the Min. of Internal security and Home Affairs and the prompt establishment and inauguration of Operation Hattara and GOSTEC, which goes a long way in restoring peace and stability in the state.

As Nigeria bleeds, we have come together on this seventh national day of mourning to ask the people and authorities to take urgent steps in preventing the menace”.

The event was attended by representatives of the Nigeria Army, DSS, Immigration Service, Police, NDLEA, NOA, JNI, CAN, Community Relations Committee, Civil Society Organizations and the Media.

The communique added that issues were raised and discussed with the following resolutions;

1. That communities should participate in providing useful, timely and accurate information to the security operatives.
2. Reactivation of the roles of traditional institutions in the society.
3. Reintroduction of Educational Marshals in schools to guard against drug abuse youth restivness and other social vices.
4. Engage youth with skills development to be self reliant in society.
5. Dignity of life is of Paramount importance and security personnel must handle all cases of arrest of the suspect and avoid any formal of molestation, intimidation and harassment of the suspect (s).
6. Religious leaders should at all times preach the gospel of peace, tolerance and mutual understanding in their places of worship.
7. Operators of social media handles and platforms should also refrain from posting unverified information that may trigger friction between communities,
8. Conventional media have been described as key players in sensitizing the public on the importance of peaceful coexistence.
9. Proactive measures to be taken by both security operatives and citizens in bringing lasting peace in the country.
10. The roundtable also emphasized on peaceful coexistence between communities irrespective of the diverse ethnic, cultural, political and religious settings in the country.

The meeting ended with strong voice of collective efforts to tackle the menace of insecurity in the country.