By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), under a GIABA-ECOWAS funded Project has commenced a Two Day Workshop on Preventing Terrorism Financing and Violent Extremism in communities holding in Bauchi, the State Capital.
In a welcome remarks shortly before the commencement of activity on Thursday 15th August, 2024, Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani said that the main objective of the Workshop was to raise communities’ consciousness on early warning signs that triggers violent extremism.
Represented by an official of CISLAC, Abubakar Jimoh, Rafsanjani said that the workhop also aimed to equip participants on early detection, reporting, prevention and proactive response to violent extremism as well as the utilisation of early warning response systems.
The ED further said that the workshop would seek to strengthen communication, collaboration, intelligence gathering, early reporting and timely response to signals between the communities and response agencies.
He stressed that the engagement will bring together state and non-state actors to improve collaboration, communication, coordination, intelligence gathering on early signals and proactive response to violent extremism in the North East.
In a goodwill message, Bauchi State Commissioner of Police (CP) Auwal Muhammad Musa said that experience has shown that security is capital-intensive that practically needs every body to be involved and that it demands a strong bond of collaboration, inclusivity and stakeholders’ collective inputs towards the relative actualization of safety and Security in the fight against violent extremism and other forms of criminality.
CP Musa, represented by the State Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO) CSP Ahmed Wakil said that, that can only be achieved through individual involvement in the use/ utilization of the early warning system and ensuring the prompt discharge of Early Response System.
“The early warning system therefore functions to underscore the significance of early detection of extremism-tendencies, prompt reporting through strengthened communication/ intelligence sharing, formulating preventive measures and coordinating timely proactive measures through the judicious utilization of the early response system”.
“Early Warning System involves the technology, associated policies and proceedings designed to predict and mitigate the harm of human militated disasters/ undesirable events occasioned by Violent Extremism”.
“For effectiveness, the Early Warning System must be implemented in collaboration amongst the Stakeholders (Community Networks and Security Agencies) through a chain of information communication including Intelligence gathering/ sharing, to assist in the formulation of best comprehensive Security decision and course of action aimed at the prevention, mitigating and preparedness against Violent Extremism”, said CP Musa
There were other goodwill messages from sister security agencie that includes: NDLEA and NCDC.
The Workshop attracted participants from the civil society organisations, security agencies, community/relegious leaders, PWDs and the media. A communique is expected at the end of the workshop.