Former presidential media aide Reno Omokri has put forth a comprehensive plan to address the conflict’s root causes and ensure lasting peace in the region.
In a statement on X, Omokri highlighted the need for immediate security measures combined with long-term strategies to mitigate the ongoing bloodshed, particularly in the Bokkos and Mangu areas of the state, known as frequent flashpoints.
Advocating for a decisive approach, Omokri proposed the establishment of a permanent garrison by the Nigerian Army in the troubled zones.
Emphasizing the necessity for consistency, he called for checkpoints to be set up every five miles, marking a departure from ad hoc Special Military Task Forces.
Furthermore, Omokri suggested proactive measures by the Air Force, proposing regular helicopter gunboat patrols equipped with night vision capabilities to monitor the area and deter potential conflicts.
To gather crucial intelligence, the former aide proposed infiltrating groups involved in the conflict, citing the potential to prevent clashes and save lives.
Omokri suggested incentivizing these groups, possibly through financial means, to gather essential information that could avert violent confrontations.
Addressing the longstanding land disputes between ethnicities in the region, Omokri stressed the need for a long-term solution.
He recommended reviving the Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) initiative, originally intended to address land usage and ownership issues that have fueled historical tensions since the colonial era.
Moreover, Omokri cautioned against relying solely on military solutions, warning that without a pragmatic and permanent resolution to the underlying causes, the crisis could escalate into a more complex and extensive conflict, straining the military’s capacity.
”A military solution without a permanent pragmatic solution will only aggravate the issue, and it can escalate to full-blown militancy, which will overstretch our military,” he added.
