By Favor Williams
Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Kefas Agbu says his administration is committed to combating violent extremism and terrorism financing in order to ensure peaceful environment for development to take place in Taraba State.
Governor Agbu disclosed this today in Jalingo, the Taraba State Capital while speaking through the Chief of Staff, Government House Administration at the on-going two day workshop organized for security agencies and community networks on early detectives, reporting prevention and proactive response to violent extremism and countering terrorism Financing Organised by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center, CISLAC with support from GIABA –ECOWAS Commission .
Agbu who said his government would continue in its efforts towards stemming the changing dimension of insecurity charged the participants to take keen interest in the lessons provided by the workshop in order to contribute to the much needed community feedback expected from them.
He commended CISLAC and GIABA –ECOWAS Commission for the steps taken to sensitize communities and people of Taraba State on countering terrorism financing , a menace he said, has bedeviled the society for some times now.
In his opening remarks, Project Manager, CISLAC, Mr. Jimoh Abubakar said the objectives of the two day workshop is to hold conversation at the grassroots and community levels on countering terrorism financing in order to raise the consciousness of participant’s on the need to curtail terrorism financing which he said, occurs at the community levels unhindered and also at 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 means of combating it.
He urged participant to take advantage of the various presentations lined up by experts to build their capacity for the enormous task ahead.
Goodwill messages by key stakeholders at the event unanimously hailed the efforts of CISLAC in organizing the workshop, saying it is apt, as the menace of Terrorism Financing and violent Extrimism has eaten deep into the facet of the society across the Northeast state, including Taraba State.
The meeting has participants drawn from representatives of Traditional institutions, the DSS, The Nigeria Police Force, the NSCDC, NDLEA, the VGN, women groups, Youths and civil society organizations in Taraba State.