The Executive Secretary of Border Communities Development Agency, Mr. Numoipre Wills, has said that the neglect of over 2, 000 international border communities in Nigeria is responsible for the increase in border crimes.
Wills said this in a paper titled “The Role of Border Communities in improving border security in Nigeria”, which he delivered during the border communities’ sensitisation workshop organised by the BCDA, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A statement by the agency’s spokesman, Atarhe Akpohwaye, said the BCDA boss submitted that security consciousness and vigilance should be made a priority amongst the citizens of these communities who are the first casualties in the event of external aggression and cross border violence.
The workshop, which had the theme “Border Security: The challenges for Integration and development in Nigeria”, was held at Kemba in Dandi Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
Citing his experiences with international border dwellers, Wills said, “The Agency has just embarked on a familiarisation tour of some border communities in five states of the federation to have first hand information regarding the needs of the citizens of these communities. Everywhere we went the story of suffering and serious neglect of these people was evident.
“Various tiers of governments have obviously denied them various developmental programs obtainable in the centre.”
He bemoaned the perception amongst security operations that postings to remote areas was a form of punishment.
Source: http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010110814153762
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