The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has decried the heightened insecurity within the South-East geo-political zone of Nigeria, calling for urgent attention to tackle the menance.
The group expressed worries by the continuous incidents of conflicts and gun violence in the zone and has approached the regional secretariat of the West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and other security agencies seeking for collaboration towards halting the ravaging insecurity in the region involving mostly the youths.
Disclosing this during the International Peace Day in Abuja recently, the Vice President of NYCN (South-East), Amb. Smart Uwakwe noted that leveraging on this year’s UN Peace Day with the theme, ‘Action for Peace’ the aim of the council for global goals cannot be realized without collective action.
In a letter to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Amb.Uwakwe expressed the readiness of Nigerian youths to work with the Mallam Nuhu Ribadu-led team to eliminate the menace of illegal proliferation of small arms and gun violence in the Southeast.
In their official visit to the regional office of WAANSA, he assured the regional vice president, Mr. Martin Igwe, of the readiness of youths in the South-East Region to work with his office towards ending the illegal proliferation of arms and light weapons, gun violence, and work towards peace and security in the region.
South-East region in recent times has been witnessing pockets of violent conflict which has frustrated governance in the region known for trade and commerce.
According to Uwakwe, “It has become urgent in line with this year’s team for collective action towards fighting the menace of gun violence, the realization of peace, justice and strong institutions which can fasten the realization of sustainable development, hence my call for the international and national organization and other relevant authorities to come to the aid of South-East Region, for together we can build a strong united Nigeria that we can be proud of.”
In response, Mr Igwe reassured the youth leader the readiness of WAANSA and its network of NGOs to work with them in realizing their mission of securing the South-East and re-orientation of the youths to free themselves from conflicts.
He appealed to the government to follow a bottom-up approach towards solving youth-related issues in Nigeria and at the same time provide opportunities for employment and other economic engagements, as youths remain the engine hub of economic development globally.
Annually, the United Nations General Assembly dedicated September 21 to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations of the earth.
