Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) has called on Kogi State government to create a permanent structure that will address issues relating to peace and security in the state.
The Executive Director of CHRCR, Comrade Idris Miliki Abdul made the call in a press statement issued in Lokoja on Thursday.
Miliki urged the state government to urgently organise a peace and conflict conference that will lead to forwarding a bill to the State House of Assembly that will create a permanent institution that will address peace and security in the State.
“Security is everybody responsibility. Peace is a prerequisite for development in any society. The recent development across the country and in particular Kogi State is becoming worrisome and the need for every stakeholder to put hand across board in addressing the insecurity which have threatened peaceful coexistence among the people.
“Security and peace cannot be addressed in isolation, therefore, the need for synergy among various professionals and stakeholders to combat insecurity that is currently affecting the lives and properties of Kogi State,” he said.
Miliki commended security agencies and government for efforts made so far in addressing insecurity but called for a more robust action. He posited that issues relating to peace and security cannot be addressed in an ad-hoc manner.
“As in any human society, conflict is inevitable, either at community, sub-national, national, and international level there will always be trouble because of human interest and value. But the methodology deployed to manage the conflict towards a bearable proportion is the most significant. As at today, the Federal Government have an institution to address peace and conflict resolution in Nigeria. Also, Plateau state have similar agency to address and intervene in their conflict situation. We need to have a permanent committee of people of proving integrity, which will train, transform, conduct research and compensate when and where necessary,” he added.
He called on the people of Kogi State to learn to live together in peace, as what cannot be resolved in the board room will also not be resolved on the street.
