A non-governmental organization, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRICR), has called for a shift in Nigeria’s security approach, saying the current situation is “worrisome” and requires new tactics anchored on community resilience and intelligence sharing.
The Executive Director of CHRICR, Comrade Idris Miliki Abdul, made the call in a statement issued in Lokoja on Friday.
He argued that top-down policing alone cannot address banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.
“The current security situation is worrisome, a new tactics is required. Community resilience is the key. Building community support on intelligence gathering can assist greatly,” Miliki said.
The CHRICR director submitted that state governments must also take responsibility in the security apparatus in their various locations, urging governors to do more than rely on federal forces.
He proposed that villages setup security committees comprising of serving and retired persons. He said retired military, police, and other security personnel living in rural areas can provide experience and local knowledge.
He admonished that timely information be shared among communities to prevent attacks and enable rapid response.
Miliki urged state and local governments to recruit more vigilantes to complement formal security agencies at the grassroots, and more investment in technology for intelligence gathering and information dissemination.
He urged government, traditional rulers, youth groups, and citizens to treat security as a collective responsibility rather than leaving it solely to security agencies.
