A professor at the University of Maiduguri, Patricia Donli, says the insurgency in the North East is caused by government neglect on issues of education, empowerment, environment and more.
She said this in Abuja a project dissemination workshop organised by Nextier Security, Peace and Development (Nextier SPD).
She said the insecurity is heightened by porous borders which have made it easy for the inflow of small arms.
Donli said Boko Haram no longer has control of some communities in Borno state, many of them are still vulnerable to attacks.
Also, a professor at the same university, Haruna Dlakwa, said women are resilient in the conflict stricken communities as they continue to strive in difficult situations.
He said some military personnel who ought to stop the flow of banned products end up trading the products.
The Partner/Chief Executive of Nextier SPD, Ndu Nwokolo, said the government must understand the coping mechanism of the people in order to sustain peace in the affected communities.
“The resilient strategy they have engaged, cash in on them and use these strategies that are dear to them,” he said.
A member of the UN working group on the use of mercenaries, Chris Kwaja, said there the need to engage the people through various means of sensitisation.
He said the inclusion of women in decision making, even in the military, is crucial in making progress.
