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Nigeria Needs Unified Communication To Defeat Insurgency

A criminologist has recommended a review of the communication strategy being used in Nigeria’s war on terror. Mr Innocent Chukwuma was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise … Continue reading Nigeria Needs Unified Communication To Defeat Insurgency


Innocent-ChukwumaA criminologist has recommended a review of the communication strategy being used in Nigeria’s war on terror.

Mr Innocent Chukwuma was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, March 1, and he considered Nigeria’s efforts to contain the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents in the northeast.

He said that the fight against the insurgents had been carried out as “something security forces alone do” while other citizens go on with their normal lives.

“The whole country should be involved in all of these and it is not something you respond to by simply increasing the capacity of security forces.

“You also have to address the socio-economic underpinnings of the crisis. A lot of people have talked about a comprehensive strategy in response to terrorism that includes protection of civilians, addressing educational needs and economic foundations of all of these crises,” he stressed.

Mr Chukwuma, who works with the Ford Foundation, believes that the economic challenges facing many Nigerians and the inequality in the access to quality life were major factors responsible for the security challenges.

He admitted that the situation was complicated, emphasising that the Nigerian Government was facing a major challenge. The criminologist also insisted that their efforts needed to be complimented by a communication strategy that would tell Nigerians what was truly happening.

“This is not something you put a deadline to how soon you can solve it because you really do not control all the variables,” he said.

Mr Chukwuma spoke further on the progress made by the Nigerian military and gave more recommendations on winning the war against Boko Haram.