As part of efforts to strengthen collaboration and accountability in the humanitarian and security sectors in Nigeria’s northeast, HumAngle Media has just concluded a town hall meeting in Damaturu, Nigeria. 

In attendance were members from all past cohorts of the HumAngle accountability fellowship programme, and community-based organisations. Isaac Oritogun, Coordinator of the fellowship, drove the conversation by first introducing HumAngle and the project. 

Country Director Follow The Money, Muazu Alhaj Modu, took the attendants through a session which was interactive and sought to identify the gaps in the security and humanitarian sectors in Yobe State, while suggesting ways for those gaps to be filled through meaningful collaborations. Participants identified inadequate funding for security agencies, lack of confidence and trust between security, citizens, and community leaders, abuse of power, poor implementation of policies, and many more, as some of the reasons for the gaps.

Analysing the current state of security in the state, the fellows cited kidnapping, especially in Ganda of Fika local government area, Kolere, Koriyal Jajere of Fune LGA, and some parts of Gujba and Gulani. They also highlighted the illegal collection of tax from some criminal groups along the Damaturu-Tarmuwa road.

Recommendations for Security Gaps 

Afterwards, an interactive session was moderated by Usman Adamu Muhammad, a past fellow from the first cohort of the Fellowship. Participants highlighted key solutions to addressing or mitigating the security and humanitarian gaps in Yobe State. 

Adamu Yunusa contributed to the discussion saying  it was important for t Advocacy to be conducted to relevant stakeholders in the security sector and also to engage traditional leaders and strengthen local security in the community.

Fatima Ibrahim from the current cohort of the Fellowship added that there is a need to provide livelihood support and empower the community to have an independent source of income which will minimize the rate of migration. 

Mr Jajere said there is a need to build a strong collaboration and confidentiality between the security personnel, community and community leaders which will strengthen the security in the community.