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Defence/Security

Boko Haram: Army continues onslaught against terrorists in N/East

Boko Haram: Army continues onslaught against terrorists in N/East

By Sumaila Ogbaje
Terrorists
Abuja, Oct. 18, 2019 (NAN) The Nigerian Army said that its troops had continued to hunt for fleeing Boko Haram insurgents and increased onslaught against them in Borno and other parts of the North East.
The Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
Iliyasu said that the troops of Sector 3 Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) had recovered additional four AK47 Riffles and one Rocket Propelled Gun (RPG) Tube, one 60mm Commando Mortar.
According to him, the troops also recovered one abandoned Gun Truck and one Motorcycle belonging to the fleeing Boko Haram criminals.
He added that the troops deployed at Gubio successfully repelled a Boko Haram attack on their location and neutralised one of the terrorists.
According to him, one AK47 Riffle, one magazine, one Very High Frequency (VHF) Radio, one mobile phone in addition to syringes/ample of injections were recovered during mop up operations.
“Additionally, troops of 231 Battalion arrested one Boko Haram criminal suspect named Baana Zakari also known as Okocha at Biu main Motor Park.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect acts as an informant to Boko Haram criminals within Bama general area.
“Furthermore, troops of 231 Battalion in conjunction with of 331 Artillery Regiment and Vigilantes arrested another logistics supplier, Alhaji Lawan, also known as Caffenol at Maina Hari check point.
“He was arrested while trying to cross with some consignments believed to be meant for the criminals.
“Items recovered from the suspect include two jerricans of palm oil, two jerricans of vegetable oil, two cartons of biscuits, one carton of spaghetti and 30 packets of mosquito coils.
“Suspect is already making useful confessions to interrogators,” he said.
Iliyasu further disclosed that the Joint Tactical Team made a significant arrest of an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) logistics supplier and courier.
He said that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, Usman Yage, (Chadian) had maintained communication with Goni Jere, Abul Qaqa and Modu Sulum who are all top wanted Boko Haram/ISWAP commanders.
According to him, investigations further revealed that the suspect used one of Goni Jere’s phone numbers to purchase vehicles and motor cycles spare parts for ISWAP.
He added that the suspect was in possession of motorcycle spare parts and locally made smoke perfumes which were intended to be delivered to Goni Jere.
The spokesperson further disclosed that army operations in other parts of the country had resulted in a number of arrests and recoveries in recent time.
He also said that troops of 144 Battalion (Rear) under operation MESA had intercepted and arrested one Chinedu Mark in Abiriba in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia.
He said that the suspect was in possession of a locally made pistol and two cartridges hidden in a polythene bag stuffed with garri.
According to him, the suspect confessed that he was conveying the arms to three of his friends who are now at large.
“Similarly, troops of 102 Guards Battalion arrested an imposter while on routine patrol along Jere–Katari–Kaduna–Abuja Expressway extorting money from motorists.
“The suspect, Godspower Linus, was found with a fake Military ID Card, camouflage jungle hat, military belt and a motorcycle.
“In addition, between Oct. 12 and 14, troops in the Niger Delta Region have intensified their operations against illegal oil bunkering, piracy, kidnapping, armed robbery and other sundry crimes.
“During the period, the troops destroyed four identified illegal oil refining sites, 6 large metal storage tanks containing illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) and four large ground reservoirs.
“Also recovered were 6,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 80,000 litres of refined products in plastic drums and Jerri cans as well as two vehicles and a motorcycle,” he said. (NAN)
OYS/IAA/MST
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

2020 Budget: N/East lauds Buhari over increase in NEDC budget allocation

2020 Budget: N/East lauds Buhari over increase in NEDC budget allocation

By Muhammad Adam
Funding
Yola, Oct. 8, 2019 (NAN) Some citizens in North-East Nigeria have commended President Muhammadu Buhari for increasing funding to the North East Development Commission (NEDC) in the 2020 budget.
A cross section of people interviewed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola, the capital of Adamawa, expressed optimism about the 2020 budget proposals.
Dr Bala Jika of the Department of Economic Education, Federal College of Education, Yola, said the increment of over 200 per cent budget of NEDC was a laudable development and encouraging.
“The allocation total of N37.8 billion for the North East Development Commission in the 2020 budget is encouraging if compared to 2019 budget, where the commission was allocated only N10 billion,” Jika said.
Similarly, Alhaji Ahmadu Musa, Managing Director, Yola Construction and Engineering Company, said the 2020 budget allocation was commendable, noting that it will enable the commission to start execution of reasonable projects in the region.
Musa however said that there was need to increase the allocation to about N100 billion considering the damages caused by insurgency in the region.
Also reacting to the budget presentation, Mr Umar Yusuf, a senior journalist based in Adamawa, said that the budget would take Nigeria to the next level, if properly implemented.
According to Umar, despite the increase in the budget allocation for the NEDC, the allocation is still inadequate.
“I watched the budget presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari but the key point that catches my attention is the total sum allocation to North East Development Commission.
“Even though, there was increase in the allocation than 2019 budget, but the allocation is very inadequate because of the massive destruction in the region caused by Boko Haram insurgency,’’ said the journalist.
“According to a joint committee report of Federal and State Governments, the destruction levels in Adamawa alone needs about N90 billion to recover,” Umar added.
He said the N37.8 billion would not make much impact considering the estimated people to be over 20 million from the six states comprising the region.
Umar also urged the federal government to check the management of the commission on how the last budget allocation of N10 billion was spent and its impact in the region. (NAN)
AMA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Science & Technology

Deforestation: N/East youths advocate building of biogas plant

Deforestation: N/East youths advocate building of biogas plant
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Biogas
Abuja, Sept. 2, 2019 (NAN) Some youths from the North-East have advocated building of biogas plant to reduce deforestation and mitigate the impact of climate change in the region.
The youths made the call in a communiqué issued by Mr Seyifunmi Adebote, a Coordinator of the just concluded two-day Climate Change Innovation Hub in Gombe.
The hub was organised by the Ministry of Environment in partnership with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and coordinated by three Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the six geo-political zones concurrently.
The NGOs are the International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI), Talentplus Initiative and Health of Mother Earth Foundation.
The youths said developing biogas plant would help to reduce deforestation, aid safe cooking methods and reduce the amount of waste emitted daily.
They also proposed the use of egg shells and establishment of green environment climate club to reduce the impact of climate change.
“Egg shells will be used to produce organic manure to aid proper food farming that will immensely help cut down the use of chemical substances for farming.
“The creation of school clubs will enhance environmental awareness among students and help develop environmental ethics in every child.
“Also, small scale water turbines will help create electricity by using the kinetic energy provided by water and also serve as substitute for fossil fuel,’’ they said.
According to them, institution of climate change subject in schools will help improve environmental literacy in school.
In addition, they recommended creation of irrigation pump machines to help sustainable agriculture processes and reduce carbon emission level.
The youths also observed that the problem of Boko Haram insurgency which had destroyed a large amount of land and property contributed to low standard of living.
They said the use of firewood and charcoal for cooking had contributed largely to deforestation and carbon emission.
In addition, they said flooding had not only reduced agricultural yield but had also contributed to water contamination.
Besides, they observed that open bush burning caused by poor waste management system had reduced the healthy lifestyle of both urban and rural residents.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the purpose of the conference was to establish Youth Regional Climate Change Innovation Hub that would serve as a platform for continuous interface for the young people.
The organisers harvested and collated innovations and ideas from about 65 participants in the zone consisting of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States.
The three best ideas would be presented alongside other ideas from the other five geopolitical zones for a Youth National Climate Innovation hub in Abuja later in the month.
The best overall idea would be showcased at the UN Climate Action Summit within the month. (NAN)
CIA/IAA/MST
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Quelea Birds: FG intensifies aerial spray in N/East

Quelea Birds: FG intensifies aerial spray in N/East
By Muhammad Adam
Birds
Yola, Sept. 1, 2019 (NAN) The Federal Government has commenced aerial spray of pesticides to control invasion of Quelea birds in North East Nigeria, an official of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has confirmed.
Mr Adamu Kazaure, the Coordinating Officer, Federal Pest Control Services Division, Department of Veterinary and Pest Control, in charge of Adamawa and Taraba States, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Yola.
Kazaure said the development was in order to prevent imminent loss of crops in the region.
He said the federal government had received several reports of the birds devastating sorghum and rice crops in some states in the North East.
According to him, the affected state governments drew the attention of federal government and called for urgent response to control the menace.
“Following the report of Quelea birds devastating farmlands in some states in North East region,
“The Federal Ministry of Agriculture through its Pest Control Services Division swung into action for aerial pesticides spray in Adamawa and Taraba states.
“So far, we had covered almost 12 local government areas in the two states,” Kazaure said.
He explained that eight local government areas including Lau, Karim Lamido, Gassol, Ibi, Wukari, Ardo-Kola, Donga and Bali, had been covered in Tarab.
In Adamawa, he said, about four local government areas, comprising Yola North, Yola South, Girei and Guyuk, were covered.
The official however assured that the remaining Lamurde, Numan, Demsa and Shelleng Local Government Areas of Adamawa would soon be covered in the next few days.
Kazaure noted that after the completion of aerial spray in Adamawa,the federal government aerial pest control crew and other officers would move to Gombe, then Bauchi and Yobe States.
“We implore affected states to supplement federal government efforts through provision of additional flight hours, pesticides and logistics.
“The complementary would drastically reduce the population of the menace to a level that will not cause economic injury to our farmers,” Kazaure said. (NAN)
AMA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Defence/Security

Buratai pledges support for UNDP in N/East

Buratai pledges support for UNDP in N/East
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Support
Abuja, July 8, 2019 (NAN) The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, says the Nigerian Army will provide the needed support for United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the North-East.
Buratai made the pledge when the UNDP Resident Representative Designate to Nigeria, Mr Mohammed Yahaya, paid him a courtesy visit on Monday in Abuja.
He disclosed that the Nigerian Army also had a stabilisation plan for the North-East, adding that the army will continue to provide support for all UN humanitarian agencies.
According to him, UN is a great and a global institution that has done a lot in providing humanitarian assistance to affected regions in Africa which the army is ready to support.
He said that the army would support all NGOs and UNDP by providing an enabling environment for peace and security to enable them to carry out their assignments.
Earlier, Yahaya told COAS that his visit was to introduce himself to the army chief and as well brief him on the planned activities of UNDP in the northeast.
He said the UNDP team were in the region to see how to assist the Nigerian government in the area of stabilisation of the communities affected by the activities of Book Haram insurgency.
Some of the programmes, according to the UNDP representative, included the livelihood programme, provision of infrastructure and reconstruction of the destroyed communities.
Yahaya however solicited for partnership from Nigerian army to ensure that the UNDP programme was successfully implemented, adding that speed is key.
“I have come to introduce myself to you and to also brief you on what the agency is doing in the North-East as well as what the UNDP is trying to initiate in the region,” he said. (NAN)
OYS/CHOM/MST
Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Insurgency: 2m children, caregivers need psycho-social help in N/East – Save the Children

Insurgency: 2m children, caregivers need psycho-social help in N/East – Save the Children
By Angela Atabo
Psycho-social
Abuja, June 26, 2019 (NAN) Save the Children, an international NGO, has said that more than two million girls, boys and caregivers need psycho-social support services due to severe distress, hardship and displacement in North-East Nigeria.
Mr Ben Foot, the Country Director, Save the Children International, Nigeria, made this known on Wednesday in a child protection report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on its 100 years Centenary celebration in Abuja.
According to Foot, another 770,000 children and caregivers remain at risk of injury and loss of life from explosive remnants of war.
“Education is a key concern in the conflict of N/East Nigeria, the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) estimates that there were 2.2 million school-aged children and teachers in NE Nigeria who need immediate education in emergency support.
“867 schools, primarily in Borno state, are still non-functional mainly due to inaccessibility as a result of insecurity.
“The conflict has exposed children to different forms of violence making them vulnerable to abuse, violence, neglect and exploitation; violence continues to cause death, injury, forced displacement, abduction and conflict related psychological distress.
“Throughout the child consultations it became clear that internally displaced children value and trust people who keep their secrets, provide them with emotional support and help them meet their basic needs.
“Many children particularly want someone to help them make decisions and go to for advice when needed; something which unfortunately they often do not have. ‘’
Foot said that the child protection concerns for unaccompanied and separated children in Borno were vast and the government, UN agencies and local/international humanitarian aid organisations were working in extremely difficult circumstances to address these concerns.
He said that the report did not want to ignore the significant efforts that had been made to try and meet the needs of these vulnerable children, their communities and government actors.
“We will continue to fight for children every single day. We will do whatever it takes to make sure they survive, get protection when they’re in danger, and have the chance to learn.
“This is because every child should be able to make their mark on their world and help to build a better future for us all,” he said.
Foot therefore urged all actors to renew their commitment and join forces to create a conducive environment for children to learn, be protected and grow up healthy.
He said this could be a reality when proper policies and strategies were in place and were funded at national and sub-national levels.
He said that when families and communities start to treat boys and girls equally; and then other stakeholders, civil society, government and development partners were better coordinated and collaborated to accelerate change for children.
He commended the recent bold step forward taken by Nigerian government in ratifying the Safe School Declaration that would be instrumental to ensuring that the schools would be safe zones for children to peruse their studies.
Foot expressed hope that a national policy to guide the implementation of the Declaration would be in place soon.
He added that there was need for partnership between international and local CSOs to work better to monitor and maintain surveillance on child protection violations in the community and leverage their ability to advocate on behalf of local vulnerable groups.
NAN reports that Save the Children has been committed to three global initiatives to mark the centenary throughout the year: ending pneumonia, boosting early childhood education and protecting children in conflict.
On its 100 year anniversary, it unveiled three reports that provide a very close look at the situation of child rights in Nigeria and around the world.
The reports are Global Childhood Report 2019; Stop the War on Children: Protecting Children in 21st Century Conflict; and Families Torn Apart: Protecting and Caring for Children Separated from their Families by the Conflict in NE Nigeria. (NAN)
ATAB/BOLA/MST
Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

CSOs drum more action for IDPs in N/East

CSOs drum more action for IDPs in N/East
By Yakubu Uba
IDPs
Yola, March 20, 2019 (NAN) Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) operating in the North East have called for more action by government and stakeholders in addressing the plight of Internally Displaced Person (IDPs) and their host communities in the sub-region.
The CSOs made the appeal on Wednesday in Yola after a two-day conference on IDPs facilitated by the Norwegian Refugee Council and UK Department for International Development (DfID).
The position of the CSOs from Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States was read by Mr Abdul-Aziz Mala, who urged for the domestication of Kampala Convention signed by Heads of States and Governments of member states of African Union as a major step in addressing the challenges faced by IDPs.
They also called on government to respect all relevant sections of the constitution and laws such as Child Right Act in fulfilling the rights of IDPs.
“We also call on all actors to raise awareness and educate IDPs on their rights and how to stand up for these rights. This education must start from the grassroots.”
The CSOs further called for restoration of social services and authorities in all recovered local government areas, pointing out that in some of those local government areas services were being rendered only by some international and national organisations.
While noting that there was lack of civil law to settle disputes in some local government areas, the CSOs urged government to increase the presence of the police, civil defence, courts and legal aid services in the LGAs across the affected states.
“FIDA, NBA, National Human Rights Commission should be strengthened.
“NAPTIP and institutions protecting against sexual assault and referral centres must be strengthened.
“Massive awareness campaign to make the general public and IDPs alike became aware of such institutions and relevant laws by all stakeholders should be carried out.”
They also urged for improved civilian, military coordination and increased time to time engagement between military, traditional and religious leaders.
Besides, they made case on local integration through increased focus on access to services and livelihood for both IDPs and host communities. (NAN)
YMU/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Rate of IDPs’ return in N/East encouraging – Buhari

Rate of IDPs’ return in N/East encouraging – Buhari
By Chijioke Okoronkwo
IDPs
Abuja, Jan. 29, 2019 (NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja said the current rate of return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East was encouraging.
Buhari expressed this view while declaring open the 2nd Regional Protection Dialogue on the Lake Chad and the Launch of the 2019 to 2021 Humanitarian Response-Strategy for North-East, and the 2019 to 2020 Regional Refugee Response Plan.
The president was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Buhari recalled that on June 6 to June 8, 2016, the first Regional Protection Dialogue on the Lake Chad Basin was held in Abuja during which a 24-point action statement, known as the “Abuja Action Statement” was adopted.
He said that the document provided a roadmap and framework for all concerned countries and stakeholders’ towards tackling the many issues confronting us in the Lake Chad Basin.
According to him, one worrisome issue in the Lake Chad Region is the dwindling fortunes of inhabitants of the area; the job losses and diminishing sources of livelihood, and forced migrations that fuel insecurity and instability in the region.
Buhari said that in collaboration with its neighbours, Nigeria had consistently degraded the ability of the insurgents to hold territory as they had done barely four years ago.
“While we assist displaced persons to return to their homes and communities, we are mindful of the need not to prioritise return over the safety of the displaced persons.
“I must say that the current rate of return of these IDPs and refugees is encouraging; and this is due to improving security in many areas that were once out of bounds.
“The respective agencies of government have been very up and doing in this regard.
“Let me also specially commend the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and other development partners for their efforts in ensuring the safe return of the IDP and Refugees.
“Our challenge now is to ensure that this improving security extends to the other areas in which we have witnessed recent unfortunate setbacks,’’ he said.
The president said the most important message of the gathering was that the humanitarian and protection challenges presented by the crisis in the Lake Chad remained urgent and required active collaboration to bring stability and succour to the region.
He called on governments, development partners, local businesses and the private sector generally to recommit to a speedy implementation of all the objectives of the second dialogue.
Buhari expressed appreciation over the presence of participants from sister countries in the Lake Chad Basin – Chad, Cameroon and Niger, as well as delegates from the UNHCR, and other Development Partners.
Earlier, while performing the launch of the 2019 to 2021 plan, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, Minister of Budget and National Planning, said the initiative was geared towards providing succour to people of the North-East.
“It gives great pleasure to launch the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan with a three-year strategy running from 2019 to 2021.
“It is a humanitarian response plan for the North East; this is a collaborative effort between the government of Nigeria and our development partners aimed at ameliorating the suffering of the people of the North East caused by insurgency that have resulted in widespread humanitarian crisis impacting negatively of the lives of millions of Nigerians.
“The efforts of the Nigerian military in the last three years under this administration have greatly improved security,” he said.
Udoma said the latest initiative was developed because the magnitude of the humanitarian need of the region called for a continuous review of strategy so as to improve the effectiveness of the efforts.
The British High Commissioner, Catriona Laing, said that the international community in partnership with the government of Nigeria and governments in the region had stepped up their response to the crisis in the North-East.
Represented by Debbie Palmer, Head of Office, Department for International Development (DFID), Laing said that the joint effort was able to avert famine in North-East in 2017.
She said that no fewer than five and a half million people were reached in humanitarian aid in 2018 which saved thousands of Nigerian lives and assisted refugees who had fled across borders.
“Displaced people now have access to food, water and protection services as a result of humanitarian action,’’ she said.
Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the governments of Chad, Niger and Cameroon. (NAN)
CJ/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

FG graduates 1,000 N-Power tech beneficiaries in N/East

FG graduates 1,000 N-Power tech beneficiaries in N/East
By Muhammad Auwal
N-Power
Yola, Dec. 23, 2018 (NAN) No fewer than 1,000 beneficiaries of the Federal Government N- Power Technical Programme have graduated from six states of the North East region, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Addressing the beneficiaries on Sunday in Yola, Mr Gbenga Odubayo, the North East Coordinator of the programme, said that the project was part of federal government’s Social Investment Programme (SIP).
Odubayo said that the trainees were selected from six states of the North East, comprising Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe.
He said that the beneficiaries received eight weeks training on hardware Information and Communication Technology (ICT) repairs and entrepreneurship.
“Today, we are graduating a total of 1,000 set of N-Power Tech Youths from six states of North East region.
“The project is part of Federal Government’s Social Intervention Programme aimed at reducing the rate of unemployment among graduates and non-graduate youths.
“The beneficiaries have been trained in various hardware repair techniques that include how to repair laptops, cellular phones and I- phones, among others,” Odubayo said.
Mr Usman Sali, the Adamawa Focal Person, National Social Investment Programme, implored the participants to use the knowledge acquired effectively and handle the repair kits with care.
According to Sali, training youths on entrepreneurship development will go a long way in developing the economy of the country.
“The only way we can get more entrepreneurs that would drive our economy is through involvement of youths to learn different Tech-systems,’’ Sali said.
Responding, one of the trainees from Borno, Mr Benedict Stephen, said that from the knowledge acquired, he could dismantle a laptop or an I-Phone and repair it perfectly.
Stephen thanked the President Muhammadu Buhari-led adminstration for introducing the programme, saying it will go a long way in assisting millions of jobless youths in the country earn a living. (NAN)
AMA/WS/MST
Edited by Wandoo Sombo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Insurgency: VSF partners celebrities to counter extremism in N/East

Insurgency: VSF partners celebrities to counter extremism in N/East
By Lizzy Okoji
Extremism
Abuja, Dec. 3, 2018 (NAN) Prof. Sunday Ochoche, the Executive Director, Victims Support Fund (VSF), says the foundation is partnering with Hausa movie actors and musicians, popularly known as Kannywood, to develop movies and music to counter extremism in the North-East.
Ochoche made this known on Monday in Abuja during the opening of the “Behavior Change Communication workshop on using indigenous content to prevent and counter violent extremism in the North-East’’.
He noted that the Kannywood celebrities are highly influential in the North-East and partnering with the stars was one of the strategies of the VSF to promote peace in the region.
He said that as part of the partnership, the stars would produce music, short clips and movies with contents on the theme of peace, forgiveness, deradicalisation, patriotism and encouragement for the Nigerian Army.
He said that the partnership also aimed to produce messages against extremist ideologies that have led to the radicalisation of several youths in the region who have joined the Boko Haram insurgents.
“We realised in Victims Support Fund very early that if we are going to move forward in the peace agenda of the North East, we need to address issues of education, health, livelihood and the governance.
“We started our peace building projects and what is happening now is an integral component of our peace building programme.
“Peace involves everybody and all hands must be on deck, and here today are some of the most influential people in society, the musicians and movie stars.
“We are here to see how we can all work together to promote peace; peace does not just happen, we must work on peace to have peace, and you are a very important component of the VSF programme.
“Peace building is about trying to identify the root causes of conflicts and to respond to them in such a way that addresses these root causes so that they do not reoccur,’’ Ochoche said.
He noted that research had shown that across the world, traditional peace keeping or military intervention in conflicts alone do not provide lasting solutions to conflicts.
He explained that 50 per cent of conflicts usually reoccur at the end of military intervention because military solutions were not designed to address the root causes.
According to him, peacekeeping missions are only designed to keep away the warring factions, to create an enabling environment for peace talks and dialogue.
Mr Alkassim Abdulkadir, Spokesperson, Presidential Committee on the North East Initiative (PCNI) and facilitator of the workshop, said that the project would also help checkmate new Boko Haram recruitments.
He said that the VSF was leveraging on the Kannywood star power in preaching and restoring peace to the North East in order to develop the region.
“The idea is that these people will come together with us and we will now create these messages in the form of music, videos and films.
“So that people who watch will understand the importance of living in peace, living in harmony, in preaching for forgiveness and also beginning the early stages of transitional justice.
“The concept of transitional justice is to forgive those who have wronged communities and to accept them back because they are now repentant; and we refer to these types of people as ex-combatants.
“These are people who lived in communities, joined Boko Haram, but have repented and have undergone the process of deradicalisation.
Abdulkadir said that the project was expected to be completed within the first quarter of 2019 and there would be a public movie premier and the music played all over.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a Kannywood movie producer, Mr Abba El-Mustapha, said that the partnership would be the contribution of the industry in combating the Boko Haram menace.
He said that movies and music would create awareness to youths in the region on the dangers of radicalisation, extremist ideas and violence among others.
El-mustapha said that it was only when the youths were aware of the dangers of insurgency that they would avoid getting involved in violent acts. (NAN)
LIZ/DOR/MST
Edited by Nyisom Dore/Muhammad Suleiman Tola