Stakeholders have emphasized the need for increased military intervention in Ondo State, rather than adopting a long-term conflict management approach, following the recent surge in violent conflicts and kidnapping cases across the state.
The call was made during a one-day stakeholders’ presentation and learning session on findings from a six-month conflict data collection exercise.
The programme, organised by Nextier’s Nigeria Violent Conflicts Database (NNVCD) Upscale Project, was held in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Speaking at the event, a Senior Policy and Research Analyst at Nextier, Mr. Joshua Biem, said the initiative was designed to highlight the importance of complementing secondary data sources with primary data collection for accurate verification.
Mr. Biem noted that many conflict incidents, particularly those in rural or hard-to-reach areas, as well as cases with fewer casualties, are often underreported.
He explained that the project aims to provide stakeholders with a comprehensive understanding of conflict dynamics, actors, and patterns to support effective policy decisions.
Mr Biem further stressed that addressing violent conflict is a collective responsibility, urging all stakeholders to actively contribute to improving the quality and accuracy of conflict reporting in the state.
In a goodwill message, the SOKU Coordinator in Ondo Stae, Barrister Olaoluwa Bankole, identified poverty, lack of sanctions, political competition, and weak deterrence as major drivers of violence, calling on security agencies to step up efforts to ensure that perpetrators of crime are brought to justice.
Barrister Bankole also advocated for clearly defined constitutional roles for traditional rulers to enhance community-level conflict resolution.
On the role of the media, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ondo State, Prince Leke Adegbite, represented by the union’s Secretary, Mr. Mashek Olaoluwa, reaffirmed the commitment of journalists to ethical and professional reporting.
He described the training as an eye-opener on conflict-sensitive reporting and pledged continued adherence to journalistic standards.
Also speaking, the Ondo State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Commandant Ibiloye, represented at the event, advocated for increased deployment of security personnel, improved weaponry, and enhanced welfare for both security operatives and citizens.
In his remarks, a Principal Investigation Officer with the National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Victor Alade, urged the Federal Government to strengthen border and internal security systems, calling for stricter immigration enforcement and proper documentation of individuals moving across states to help curb insecurity.
Participants at the programme included representatives from the State Bureau of Statistics, religious leaders, security agencies, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), development partners, civil society organisations, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
