Executive Director, Civil Society Organisation, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC),, Auwal Rafsanjani, stated this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.
This, Rafsanjani said, would help to prevent re-radicalisation and mitigate potential threats to communities in the state.
He, however, commended Gov. Dauda Lawal for adopting a different approach to end banditry in the state.
Rafsanjani said that the governor took the right step by launching Operation Safe Corridor, an initiative aimed at tackling insecurity through a non-kinetic approach.
“The shift from kinetic to non-kinetic approach in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges aligns with the administration’s commitment to decisively tackling banditry.
“The initiative offers a safe passage for non-radicalised individuals who were drawn into banditry due to illiteracy, poverty and other socio-economic factors.
“CISLAC believes Operation Safe Corridor will strengthen policy focus on non-kinetic measures, reducing the heavy reliance on arms and ammunition in maintaining peace,” he said.
The executive director said that the state government should intensify efforts to disrupt the cycle of banditry at various stages, including ideation, recruitment, indoctrination and violence.
He also called for public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements to enhance community awareness and counter-extremism education.
Rafsanjani stressed the importance of providing psycho-social support, compensation and reconstruction for victims of banditry to alleviate their trauma and mitigate socio-economic losses.
He urged the Federal Government to collaborate with the state government to ensure successful implementation of Operation Safe Corridor. (NAN)
