From Umar Danladi Ado, Sokoto
The Centre for Peace Studies at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, has identified the Nigerian government’s failure to hold perpetrators of violence accountable as a major factor sustaining insecurity across the country.
This position was contained in a communiqué issued after the Centre’s 2nd Virtual Symposium, which convened academics, policy experts and security analysts to examine the links between state accountability, religious diversity management and the prevention of political violence.
According to the communiqué signed by the Director of the Centre, Prof. Uthman Abdullahi AbduQadir, the persistent inability of security institutions to arrest, prosecute and punish offenders has emboldened violent groups and deepened citizens’ sense of vulnerability.
The Centre urged the government to act decisively by protecting citizens, strengthening security institutions and adopting diplomatic and political strategies that address emerging international concerns.
It also recommended adequate compensation for victims of violence, insisting that justice must be swift, transparent and uncompromising.
Participants stressed that Nigeria’s security crisis cannot be reduced to religion or ethnicity alone. They identified additional drivers such as weak social integration, unchecked political violence and the influence of unqualified religious leaders who inflame tensions within communities.
The symposium also reviewed the United States’ designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged religious persecution.
Some contributors questioned the motivations behind the classification, while others said it underscores the urgency for Nigeria to improve its human-rights and security frameworks.
The Centre for Peace Studies called for renewed political will at both federal and state levels, warning that without strong accountability measures, insecurity will continue to undermine national stability.
The symposium ended with an appeal for deeper commitment to peace, justice and responsible governance.