The Executive Director of Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, Idris Miliki Abdul, has called for a new approach to tackling Nigeria’s growing security challenges, emphasizing that community resilience and grassroots intelligence gathering remain critical to addressing insecurity.
Abdul made the call in Lokoja, Kogi State, while speaking on measures needed to address the country’s evolving security challenges.
According to Abdul, the current security situation across the country is deeply concerning and requires innovative strategies beyond conventional methods. He stressed that communities must be actively engaged in supporting intelligence gathering efforts, noting that local residents are often the first to notice suspicious activities and emerging threats.
He also urged state governments to assume greater responsibility in strengthening security structures within their jurisdictions, arguing that security should not be left solely to federal agencies.
Abdul advocated the establishment of security committees in every village and local government area, comprising serving and retired security personnel, traditional leaders, and other respected community stakeholders. Such committees, he said, would enhance coordination, facilitate intelligence sharing, and improve rapid response to security threats.
He further called for timely information sharing among neighboring communities to prevent criminal elements from exploiting communication gaps.
The rights advocate also recommended the recruitment of more vigilante personnel by state and local governments to complement the efforts of conventional security agencies. He noted that properly trained and supervised vigilantes could play a significant role in community policing and crime prevention.
In addition, Abdul emphasized the need to deploy modern technology for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and information dissemination, describing technology as an indispensable tool in contemporary security management.
“Community resilience is the key. When communities are organized, vigilant, and connected through effective intelligence networks, security agencies can respond more efficiently to threats. Technology and local participation must be at the center of our security architecture,” he stated.