Bukola Afeni
Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International in Nigeria (TI-NIGERIA) has sensitized media practitioners on de-escalation of violent extremism and terrorism financing through conflict-sensitive reporting in the North East.
This was made known in a statement by the Executive Director, CISLAC/TI-Nigeria, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), Dawdal Kura Radio International, Borno state, Amb. Abba Tuja and NSCDC, Borno State Command, DCC Muhammad Umar at the end of the 2-day sensitisation workshop day in Maiduguri, Borno state.
The event was financed by GIABA-ECOWAS . It had some technical sessions with presentations titled: Understanding the Typology, Enablers and Drivers of Terrorism Financing in the North-East of Nigeria, and The Media Reportage of Violent Extremism and Terrorism Financing: A Trend Analysis, by Dr. Sani Yakubu Gombe; and Understanding Media Accountability and Its Role in Reducing Violent Extremism in North-East, Nigeria, and, Practical Steps and Tools in Investigating and Reporting on Violent Extremism and Terrorism Financing.
The group recommended that strengthening community-based surveillance through institutionalised Early Warning and Early Response system, will elicit citizen-based report of threat signals for timely response.
“System strengthening through strict adherence to the rule of law will enable consistency in governance while promoting social justice and equity.
Increasing public investment in public educational services towards enhancing quality service delivery, will prevent infiltration of violent extremists, who leverage illiteracy in radicalisation.”
The participants also noted that regulating informal financial system and process through adequate legal provisions and thorough scrutiny as well as well-supported technical expertise, will prevent illicit financial flows for terrorism and violent activities.
In the same vein, the body noted that fostering unity among members of the community through enhanced sensitivity in media content, coverage and publicity, will promote communal harmony.
“Building nationalism spirit among citizens, to promote the overall national interest in proactive effort to mobilise citizens against terrorism, terrorism financing and violent extremism.
“Maintaining law and order to protect critical infrastructural facilities and alleviate socio-economic worries of the citizens, while restoring hopes and aspiration in the North East.”
The group further noted that regulating social media activities through comprehensive legal provisions taking cognisance of human rights, will prevent misleading contents that aggravate the activities of violent extremists and terrorism financiers.
“Promoting accurate and verifiable content through objective coverage and publicity, will preserve sensitivity in public information and communication.
“Fostering inter-agency collaboration will also enhance information sharing and coordinated response to community-initiated reports on terrorism, terrorism financing and violent extremism”.
