Date: 2018-06-27

June 20 has been declared as World Refugee Day, and in the spirit of this, the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies of the University of Ilorin was a melting pot for academic, analysts and other stakeholders to reflect on the plights of displaced persons and refugees that were sacked in their places of abode as a result of natural disaster, violence and war like situations. AHMED 'LATEEF attended the event.

These are certainly not the best of times for Nigeria, particularly in the area of security. As it battles to end one security problem, another rears its ugly head, thereby getting the situation complicated. The capacity and capability of Nigeria, widely acclaimed to be giant of Africa, to contain emerging security challenges is not in doubt but the dimension with which the problems are coming make them toughening.

Across the world, the issue of security has received greater attention. This is not because there was no gamut of effort in the past to tackle threat to security of lives and property. From Africa to, Middle East, Asia and Europe, it is the issue of security that has dominated major discourse.

This is beside several security measures put in place by the United Nations to not only minimise tension but resolve conflicts in all parts of the world. The United Nations through its Security Council had taken and still initiating new modalities to meet the rising security challenges with little or no impact in those efforts. As it is now, the problems seem unabated.

In African countries such as Somalia, South Sudan, Libya, Chad, Mali Niger Republic and even Nigeria, there appears to be no let up in the problem precipitated by insecurity. While certain parts of the affected countries enjoy relative peace, others grapple with peace of the graveyard. And such has been their fate, especially those who have been made to suffer from the problem that they weren't part of.

Because of the atmosphere of insecurity in some parts of Nigeria, many citizens opted to flee while others relocated to safer places for their lives. Prior to now, Nigeria has contended and continued with the problem of insurgency. States like Borno, Yobe and Adamawa and even Abuja, the nation's capital were more vulnerable to the menace of the insurgents until recently that the Federal Government took the bull by the horn to review and improve the security infrastructure of the Federal Capital Territory.

The insurgents, in their unbridled quest to carve out caliphate in the country, focused their attention more on North Eastern States and wreak havoc at slightest opportunity. In their fiendish campaign in collaboration with Islamic States of Iraq and Syria, thousands of innocent lives had been wasted and others left with lifetime injuries.

While some people were made to lick their wounds, others suffered outright displacement from their ancestral homes and natural habitats with no respite in sight for them. On account of being sacked from their homes, the victims have been turned refugees in their own country.

That onslaught perpetrated by insurgents otherwise known as Boko Haram is on one hand while problems Nigeria is grappling with are in larger proportion. There are problems of armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry, castle rustling and ritual killings among others.

The latest in the episodes of security problems in Nigeria is pogrom arising from the face off between herders and farmers in the North Central States of Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau and as well as Taraba. Hundreds of people have been sent to their early graves on the situation, which the governments have not been able to end.

In Benue State for instance, a lot of people, who are predominantly farmers have been forced to abandon their homes, farmlands and property to avoid being killed by the rampaging and blood thirsty miscreants. And the implication of this is that the victims have been displaced, and camped in isolated areas in the state for fear of further attack.

With this development across the country and the world as a whole, stakeholders are becoming alarmed with the danger it poses to peace, tranquility and stability of any society and attendant rise in the number of refugees and displaced persons, who in the wake of invasion of their homes, fled and sought refuge in safer places.

As part of the activities commemorating world refugee day, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies (CPSS), University of Ilorin, Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) gathered at the main lobby of CPSS at the permanent site of Unilorin to appraise the situation and the plights of refugees across the globe.

The Director, CPSS, Professor Noah Yusuf; the Director, Kwara State office of NOA, Mr Olusegun Adeyemi and the National Publicity Secretary of SPSP, Dr (Mrs) Abiola Adimula, at the event themed "Becoming Neighbours", in their separate remarks, called for greater attention to the problems confronting refugees and displaced persons.

Professor Yusuf stated that it was imperative that those living devoid of crisis of displacement, extend hands of fellowship and give succour to the people in dire of assistance.

He, however, advocated good governance as a panacea to solving the problem of war and violence, which usually precipitate human displacement and ultimately lead to refugee problem.

"The theme of this year's world refugee day is quite unique- Becoming neighbours. This theme throws serious challenges to those of us who are lucky not to be part of the refugee story. Since becoming a refugee is not the making of the victim, rather, in most cases, social factors such as war, violence as well as political and religious persecutions are mostly responsible, then we have to render our support to the refugees in our midst.

"It is therefore our social responsibility to provide succour to the refugees in our community by offering them hands of neighbourliness. The refugees are our true neighbours and should be treated accordingly through physical, security, social and psychological/ emotional supports

"These supports can be rendered by individuals, communities, groups and government. We need to create awareness on the plights of the refugees and the need for inclusive societal support", the CPSS Director said.

In his speech, the Director of NOA in Kwara State, Adeyemi disclosed that about 1.8million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are currently in Nigeria. With the figures, he said Nigeria is now listed third among the nations with humanitarian crisis globally.

The NOA boss, who said most the displaced persons are found in Northeast states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, disclosed that about 14million are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Adeyemi noted that the victims, who were forced to vacate their places of residence in the affected states, said Gombe, Taraba and Bauchi States host huge number of them.

He stated that the condition of the victims required urgent attention, pointing out that some of them suffer hardship including health hazards and deadly diseases in places where they settle.

"In a world where violence, natural disasters, and other human factors displace people from their homes and force thousands of individuals and families to flee for their dear lives each day, it has become expedient for nations around the world to pay more attention to people, who are being affected by such issues.

"Stakeholders should be encouraged to toe the line of United Nations, which launched the #withrefugees petition in June 2016 to send a message to governments, that they must work together and do their fair share for refugees.

"Let me also reiterate the fact that the number of people forcibly displaced worldwide has reached an alarming figure of 60million, the highest since the end of World War II and regrettably, 20million of these people are children.

"In Nigeria, the situation is really critical as the nation has been ranked third globally, among the nations with humanitarian crisis with about 1.8million internally displaced persons, who are mostly in the Northeast states.

"It is also estimated that about 14million Nigerians are in need of humanitarian assistance and Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States are the most directly affected by conflict and mass forced displacement, while Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba States accommodate the highest number of displaced persons.

"Without fear of contradiction, I wish to state that the condition of Refugees is one which demands immediate urgent attention as some of them suffer untold hardship in the camps or places where they seek refuge. While a number of them lack the required basic needs of food, clothing and shelter, others are affected by deadly disease and other hazards", Adeyemi said.

The National President of Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) Nigeria, Dr Nathaniel Danjibo, said the world refugee day was being celebrated to remind people about the failures of an international community, which forced lots of families to leave their homes.

Danjibo, who spoke through the National Publicity Secretary of the society, Dr (Mrs) Abiola Adimula, bemoaned the fate of the IDPs and refugees, saying that they are usually misunderstood and maligned because of their vulnerability.

"Refugees are vulnerable and in need, and are often misunderstood and maligned, and often have very little or nothing of their possessions and little food, they often have to leave their homes with nothing or with what they can carry. They suffer cold, hunger, trauma, despair, disease, violence and loss. The awareness day is to help public understanding of refugees as well as raising support and help", SPSP National President said.