By Queen Kunde
In a bid to scale up National response to understanding the complexities surrounding terrorism financing in Nigeria and how to counter violent Extremism, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC) with funding from GIABA ECOWAS Commission organized a two-day Workshop for stakeholders at community level to discuss on the menace of terrorism financing and Prevention of violent Extremism in the North East.
Declaring the meeting open, Executive director of CISLAC, Mr. Auwal Musa Rasfajani, represented by the Head of Communication, Mr. Jimoh Abubakar said that the Objectives of the Two Day Workshop is to broadened the discussion at community level in order to raise the consciousness of all while building the skills of participant’s on the need to curtail terrorism financing which occur at the community levels unhindered, most times unnoticed thereby undermining peace and security in the country as a whole.
Mr. Jimoh explained that the project aims at supporting stakeholders to understand the ills of terrorism financing and how it operates at the community in order to find lasting ways to combat it.
In a goodwill message, the Commander 301 Artillery Regiment ( General Support) Gombe, Col S.M Ahmed, represented by Lt. Col O. Ezekiel said the Nigerian Armed Forces has over a decade engaged in military operations against violent Extremism and terrorists groups which has recorded great successes.
According to him “Although the Military and other security agencies have recorded great successes in pursuits of peace, terrorism still persist in various shades and form within the geopolitical zones of the Nation”.
“One of the great enablers of terrorism is the source of funding and sponsorship, Terrorism financing is a scourge that affects all of us, it requires collective efforts to disrupt and prevent” he added.
Col S M Ahmed commended the organizers saying the workshop provides a unique opportunity for experts to come together, share knowledge and strategies that would enhance preventing violent Extremism and making the country a safe place.
On her part,Chairman ACTU Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corpse Commander Ekundayo Remi Omolade said that, her unit and Civil Defence establishment would continue to provide its institutional role in the fight against terrorism and terrorism financing in the country, assuring that the Commandant General is deeply committed to the partnership with CISLAC and other well meaning organisations in addressing this menace.
The North East Development Commission, NEDC, Gombe State Coordinator Mr. Rufai Lawan Babamanu said the Commission is by its mandate committed to supporting government and critical stakeholders to address terrorism in the North East.
He explained that the work and engagement of NEDC in addressing the IDPs, Housing Education and Development priorities in the Zone falls in line with improving livelihoods of citizens at community levels to prevent occurrences of crime in the communities.
Babamanu enjoined participants to ensure the maximum use of the lessons and provide insights to the organizers that would lead to addressing the issues around terrorism financing in the region.
Traditional leaders, women groups, and other participants from some states of the North east all made valued contributions on ways Terrorism Financing and violent extremism can be curtailed at community levels, pledging to spread the knowledge to members of their community as Security is identified as everyone’s business.
