Borno Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Mr. Usman Tar, has announced that the state has successfully overcome the negative impact of Boko Haram attacks. He urged the media to report the current positive developments accurately.
Tar made this statement at a two-day workshop on Addressing Patterns of Violence, Injustice, and Criminality in Nigeria, held on Wednesday in Abuja. The workshop was organized by International Alert Nigeria with support from the Borno State Ministry of Information and Internal Security.
“The media is still trapped in the old narrative of Borno being the home of insurgency, but all this has changed; our 27 local governments are fully controlled by federal forces,” Tar said. “There is freedom of movement, our transportation is booming, our agriculture is thriving, and everything is working. This narrative needs to be carried by the media, projecting the true position of our state.”
He emphasized that Maiduguri, the state capital, is now safe for habitation and business activities, including journalism. He assured journalists and media organizations of their freedom to access information without fear of being blocked or censored.
Mr. Paul Nyulaku-Bemshima, Country Director of International Alert Nigeria, highlighted the workshop’s aim to address security issues in Nigeria. “This expert meeting is on addressing patterns of violence, injustice, and criminalities in Nigeria, and it is the second edition. The objective is to identify key resolutions for what is happening in different regions of Nigeria,” he said.
Nyulaku-Bemshima stressed the importance of addressing the factors driving insecurity and violence across the country to achieve growth and development. He recommended solutions such as amnesties, increased access to justice in affected communities, and both kinetic and non-kinetic actions.
Ms. Melissa Camaganacan, 2nd Secretary at the High Commission of Canada to Nigeria, recommended including gender equality perspectives in security measures. Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, Director-General of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, lauded the event for providing a platform to deliberate and find solutions for peace and security in the country. Dr. Ochogwu was represented by Dr. Abosede Babatunde, Senior Officer at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution.
Other stakeholders, including representatives from the Nigeria Army Resource Centre, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, and security stakeholders from North-West and South-East Nigeria, commended the organizers and called for sustained platforms for dialogue.
