A civil society organization, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), has called on Kogi state government to, as a matter of urgency, review the continued closure of some local markets and motor parks across the state.
In a statement issued in Lokoja on Wednesday, the Executive Director of CHRCR, Comrade Idris Miliki Abdul, said re-opening the closed markets and motor parks will help the rural communities affected by the policy as local farmers prepare for the raining season.
Miliki acknowledged that the closure of some motor parks and markets in the western senatorial district of Kogi state was a preventive and proactive measures to tackle security concerns based on security information that is best known to the government and conventional security agencies.
He noted, however, that the continued closure of these business places is also affecting the economic development and welfare of the citizens those areas as it has direct bearing on the local populace that transact businesses on daily and periodic basis.
He argued that residents in the rural areas rely more on the agricultural activities which must be traded in markets through motor parks.
Miliki stated that one of the greatest challenges facing nations and societies today is the rising state of violent extremism and insecurity, also referred to as violent non-state actors, whose activities pose serious security risks to political order.
“Violent non-state actors are causing significant concern among national security chiefs, political leaders, government officials, civil society organizations, and people across all faiths, creeds, and religious persuasions particularly at sub-national level in Nigeria. This is a worrisome development,” he added.
