Summit highlights need for community engagement, security Reforms in Southeast Nigeria

Stanley Ihedigbo

The recent South-East Economic and Security Summit has emphasized the importance of community engagement, youth empowerment, and security reforms to address the region’s security challenges.

The two-day summit organised by the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) in partnership with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and South-East CSOs on Peace and Security and Public Hearing on Human Rights Violations in Enugu, brought together key stakeholders, including governors, senators, traditional rulers, and community leaders.

The summit was to address escalating security concerns and evaluate human rights violations in the Southeast region of Nigeria.

The summit highlighted the chronic violence and insecurity in Southeast Nigeria, which has led to internal displacement, food insecurity, and a collapse in education.

Human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and disappearances, were also reported.

The summit emphasized the importance of community engagement and local involvement in security matters.

Participants stressed the need for a multi-faceted approach to address the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, social disintegration, and governance failures.

The summit called for security reforms, including community policing strategies and accountability mechanisms to restore public trust in law enforcement agencies.

The summit recommendation aimed at improving security and human rights in the region, which includes, a joint human rights bureau will be established to track and report cases of human rights violations, provide legal support and promote accountability.

Community policing strategies will be implemented to enhance security and promote trust between law enforcement agencies and local communities, and the Southeast Governor’s Forum will be strengthened to facilitate coordination and collective action among state governments to address security challenges.

The summit further emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to address insecurity and human rights violations in Southeast Nigeria.

Participants stressed the importance of continued dialogue, innovative policy solutions, and a commitment to rebuilding trust within communities to restore peace and security in the region.

The Southeast Joint Human Rights Bureau (SJHR-Bureau) was proposed as a critical framework to bring together the skills and commitment of human rights activists and investigative journalists in the region to provide strong interventions on behalf of violated youths and other victimized persons.

By working together, stakeholders can promote human rights, accountability, and peacebuilding in Southeast Nigeria, ultimately restoring stability and security in the region.