Terrorism: Buhari leads war

…As Police /The Sun National Security Summit holds in Abuja today

By NETA NWOSU

FOUR days after ordering the military to crush Boko Haram within three months, President Muhammadu Bu­hari will today lead the war against terrorism, as the na­tion tries to find a lasting so­lution to insecurity.

President Buhari, who is also the Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces, will, as Special Guest of Honour, lead Service Chiefs and heads of other security agencies, to the national se­curity summit organized by the Nigeria Police, in collab­oration with The Sun Pub­lishing Limited, which holds in Abuja today.

Other dignitaries expected at the summit are governors, security experts, ambassa­dors of foreign countries and stakeholders, among others.

The summit, with the theme, “Community Part­nership Approach to Internal Security and Crime Manage­ment,’ holds at the Interna­tional Conference Centre, Abuja starting from 9am.

At the event, Buhari is expected to chart a way forward in the fight against terrorism, while the Royal Father of the day, Sultan of Sokoto, Amirul Mumineen Muhammadu Sa’ad Abuba­kar III, will give a keynote address.

The Chief Host, the In­spector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Sunday Arase, underpinning the impor­tance of the summit, said: “Community participation, as far as the issue of crime prevention and fighting is concerned, is a key strategy. Countries all over the world are beginning to move from traditional policing to adopt­ing community policing ap­proach to crime-fighting and Nigeria must follow suit to get the desired results.

“This coupled with the contributions of other non-state actors, including not-for-profit organizations and corporate bodies would go a long way in eradicating crimes in our country,” he said.

As part of the programme for the day, two papers will be presented and discussed afterwards. Dr. Kevin Nwosu, a legal luminary and Alternative Dispute Resolu­tion expert, will deliver the first paper entitled: “The Strategic Importance of Traditional Institutions and Community Partnership in National Security and Crime Management,’ while former Minister of Information, Prince Tony Momoh, in the second paper, will speak on “Role of the Media in Na­tional Security and Crime Management.”

The first panel of discus­sants, to be chaired by for­mer IGP, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, include Chief Nosakhare Isekhure, Chief Priest of Benin Kingdom, Dr. Sani Matazu of the Us­man Dan Fodio University, Sokoto and Oba Dokun Ab­olarin, Orangu of Oke-Ila. The second session, which will be chaired by a veteran journalist, Mr. Ray Ekpu, will have as discussants Dr. Hassaini Abdu, Country Di­rector, Plan International; Asiwaju Kemi Okenyodo of Cleen Foundation and retired AIG (Barr.) Felix O. Ogbau­du Ogbaudu and Co.

Commenting on the sum­mit, the Managing Directo/ Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Eric Osagie, said the media outfit is partnering the Nigeria Po­lice on the summit to be part of the effort in finding solu­tion to the security challenge. He said to effectively fight crime and check the increas­ing rate of insecurity in the country, the Nigeria Police, charged with the primary re­sponsibility of enforcing law and order, must engage the communities, where they op­erate ad are meant to protect.

The Managing Director reiterated the importance of the media in exposing and fighting crime, saying: “The media plays a key role in this process of engagement, because it helps the Police and other security agencies by publishing concerns and solutions that will impact the community.

“The Sun Publishing Lim­ited, as a responsible cor­porate organization, which places high premium on the life of the average Nigerian and believes in a free and safe society as a requirement for the prosperity of the na­tion, therefore, has decided to enter into partnership with the Nigeria Police to bridge the existing gap between the Force and people.”

He said the relevance of the media cannot be over-emphasised in effective and efficient policing as well as creating collaborative part­nerships among government security agencies, business­es, communities and citizens to better implement public safety strategies.

Among others expected at the security summit are: heads of para-military agen­cies, National Security Ad­viser, principal officers of the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly, security experts, traditional rulers, corporate chieftains and religious leaders.

Also expected are civil society groups, chairmen of secretaries of political par­ties, labour leaders, presi­dents of professional bod­ies and chairman of ethnic groups.