GJF had in July this year hosted a Peer Review Meeting on the initial report, which interrogated the trends and drivers of the crises in the North-West, the GJF Executive Director, Ms Ann Iyonu,  said that the reports also interrogated the impact and implications to internal security whether human or physical.

“It also proffers strategies and actions required by various stakeholders at both national and sub-national levels to address the challenges of internal security; terrorism and banditry in Nigeria,’’ she said  that the militancy, violent extremism and enrolment into gangs and sects engaged with violent crimes had been on the ascent within Nigeria.

“Overlapping security crises, from kidnapping to extremist insurgencies, in almost every corner of the country threatening the nation’s development and its cooperate existence as a nation.

“As a foundation, we recognise that the existence of peace, security, stability and governance is germane in the quest for achieving sustainable development on the African continent.

“A look at the development pattern across the ages and the social standing of nations buttress the point that growth and development are relative to the conscious effort it makes at promoting peace and security,’’ 

She also expressed her thought on the ongoing debate as to the ideal description of what was going on in the North-West, whether it was banditry or terrorism, as well as the appropriate policy response required.

Iyonu said that no matter how one chose to define or call it, it was important to note that Nigerians, most especially women and children, were suffering and as a direct consequence of terrorism and banditry and food security was threatened.