Insecurity: Group advocates increased community engagement

The Partnership Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) has advocated increased engagement with religious and traditional leaders at the community level in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) in Nigeria.

PAVE is a network of Civil Society Organisations and Community Based Organisations working on PCVE in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The recommendations are contained in a statement by the Chairman, Steering Committee, PAVE Network, Jaye Gaskia on Monday in Abuja.

Gaskia said that PAVE network in its recent meeting highlighted some of the resolutions, recommendations, and advisories in view of the current situation in the country.

He said there was nexus between insecurity and violent extremism in Nigeria.

“Stakeholders should increase and enhance their engagement with religious leaders and traditional leaders at the community level.

“Violent extremism has assumed a pan Nigerian dimension, as such, the intervention should assume a pan Nigerian dimension in content and approach.

“Communities must be considered as the primary focus and major beneficiary of reintegration projects,’’ he said.

Gaskia said the network also recommended promoting and actively encouraging intergenerational discussions as a means of enhancing community social cohesion.

According to him, state and non-state actors should be deliberate about unmasking, identifying, and investigating the phenomenon of ‘unknown gunmen’.

“Government should design and implement trust-building mechanisms between security agencies and communities.

“The PAVE Network reaffirms its commitment towards working with all stakeholders and communities to achieve the objective of safer and more resilient communities in the country.

“Towards this end, the PAVE Network will regularly meet to review the context of PCVE in Nigeria and globally, draw and share lessons from ongoing practice and interventions.

“PAVE will also issue advisories to government and recommendations to all stakeholders; and generally work to improve the quality, effectiveness, and impact of PCVE interventions.

“It will ensure that such interventions and programmes are inclusive and equitable, based on social justice, and do not violate the human rights of citizens, residents, and communities,’’ he said.