As part of its ongoing commitment to fostering sustainable peace and reintegration in Northeast Nigeria, the Peace Ambassadors Centre for Humanitarian Aid and Empowerment (PACHE), in partnership with the British Council, has undertaken high-level advocacy engagements with key military leaders. The delegation met with Brig. Gen. A.I. Haruna, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Nigerian Army (Operation Hadin Kai), and Air Commodore Idris, Air Component Commander, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Operation Hadin Kai, to discuss strategic collaboration on peacebuilding efforts.
During the visit to Brig. Gen. A.I. Haruna, the delegation, led by Amb. Ahmed Shehu, President of PACHE, formally congratulated the GOC on his appointment and highlighted opportunities for partnership in reintegration and stabilization programs. As a Peace Ambassador and PACHE alumnus, Brig. Gen. Haruna reaffirmed his commitment to supporting initiatives that enhance civil-military relations and promote long-term stability in Borno State.
At the Nigerian Air Force headquarters, Air Commodore Idris was recognized for his proactive engagement in community-driven security solutions. Discussions focused on enhancing intelligence-sharing mechanisms, updating security policies to align with evolving challenges, and expanding economic reintegration programs for ex-combatants and victims of insurgency.
A key highlight of the engagements was the presentation of resolutions from a recent town hall meeting organized by PACHE in collaboration with the British Council and the Borno State Ministry of Information and Internal Security. The communiqué emphasized the need for:
Enhanced multi-stakeholder collaboration, including security agencies, traditional leaders, and civil society.
Strengthening intelligence-sharing networks to improve proactive security responses.
Economic empowerment and reintegration programs to prevent relapse into violent extremism.
Expanded victim support initiatives, particularly for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).
Both Brig. Gen. Haruna and Air Commodore Idris reiterated their commitment to working closely with civil society organizations to advance community resilience, intelligence-driven security operations, and inclusive peacebuilding efforts.
Speaking on the significance of the engagements, Bunu Mustapha, PACHE’s Program Manager, underscored the importance of constructive dialogue between communities and security forces in achieving sustainable peace. He emphasized that security efforts must go beyond military interventions and incorporate community-driven solutions, youth empowerment, and inclusive governance strategies.
