How Community Synergy, Early-Warning Tech Can End Insecurity – Ilorin Professors, Ex-Security Chiefs
Security experts, scholars, and retired service chiefs have called for a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s national defense strategy, advocating for a community-led, technology-driven approach to combat the country’s escalating security challenges.
The recommendation was made during a virtual national security webinar organized by the Ilorin Emirate Professors’ Association (IEPA), themed “Strengthening Community Security Through Awareness, Collaboration, Technology and Resilience,” according to a statement issued by Prof Isiaka Aliagan, the Dean of Information and Communications Technology, Kwara State University, Malete.
READ ALSO: Argentina blocked from retiring Lionel Messi’s No. 10 shirt due to FIFA rules
Convened by Prof. Binta Sulyman, facilitated by Prof. Mubaraq Sanni, and moderated by Prof. Saudat Salah Abdulbaqi, the summit gathered academic researchers, former military and police officers, intelligence veterans, and grassroots leaders to map out practical solutions to contemporary security threats.
Whole-of-Society Approach Needed
Delivering the opening address, IEPA President Prof. Abdul Kabir Hussain Solihu emphasized that securing communities can no longer be viewed strictly as a government responsibility.
“The changing nature of threats demands a whole-of-society approach in which families, traditional institutions, religious bodies, schools, the private sector, and security services pull together,” Prof. Solihu stated.
Highlighting threats such as banditry, kidnapping, violent crime, cybercrime, and misinformation, Solihu outlined four core pillars required for lasting peace: Awareness, Collaboration, Technology, and Resilience.
Addressing Youth Alienation and Security Education
Keynote presenter Dr. (Mrs.) Monsurat Isiaka, Head of the Department of Criminology and Security Studies at the University of Ilorin, noted that kinetic military operations alone cannot eliminate terrorism and banditry. She observed that despite government initiatives like Operation Safe Corridor and regional development projects, public security awareness remains low while structured security education for young Nigerians is nearly non-existent.
Comparing international models from the UK and Colombia with grassroots challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa, Dr. Isiaka warned against elite capture of community policing initiatives. She argued that when political elites and gatekeepers sideline artisans, youth leaders, and local unions, young people become alienated—creating a vacuum that criminal networks and extremist groups exploit.
She warned that this dynamic contributes to the spread of attacks into North-Central communities, including vulnerable local government areas in Kwara State such as Kaiama, Ifelodun, Patigi, and Baruten.
Religious Leaders and Local WhatsApp Networks
Addressing collaboration, retired Major General Abdullahi Otta Uthman urged policymakers to utilize existing social structures, particularly religious platforms.
“Every day, there is a prayer or ceremony somewhere in the emirate, and imams and malams stand before congregations that trust them,” General Uthman said, calling on religious leaders to use their platforms to promote security consciousness and safe intelligence reporting.
He recommended setting up structured grassroots frameworks—including neighborhood watches, vigilante committees, and dedicated WhatsApp communication channels linked to security focal points. Commending recent legislative steps toward state policing, Uthman stressed that locally recruited officers are best equipped to identify emerging threats early.
General Uthman also highlighted Kwara State’s alerts regarding unverified commercial motorcyclists and itinerant traders, calling for biometric registration, standardized uniforms, and enhanced vigilance.
Technology as a Force Multiplier
Former Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Alhaji Baba Adisa Bolanta discussed the role of modern technology in community protection. Citing tools such as 112 emergency toll-free lines, crime-mapping platforms, CCTV networks, and surveillance drones, Bolanta noted how digital evidence—such as hidden camera footage—has proven decisive in prosecuting criminal suspects.
However, he cautioned against relying solely on technology without addressing operational hurdles like high costs, unstable power supply, data privacy concerns, and lack of technical maintenance.
“Technology is a critical force multiplier, but it is not a substitute for trusted people and institutions,” Bolanta said.
Solving the “Last-Mile” Intelligence Gap
Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Abdulsalam, retired Director of Legal Services at the Department of State Services (DSS) and Fellow of the National Security Institute, urged a transition from reactive state operations to proactive early-warning systems.
Analyzing complex threat landscapes across the geopolitical zones, Abdulsalam identified the “last-mile problem”—the delay in getting actionable intelligence to civilians on the ground. To bridge this gap, he recommended:
Formal integration of local hunters, traditional rulers, and vigilantes into state security planning.
Secure, anonymous messaging channels (such as WhatsApp and Telegram) for citizen reporting.
Establishment of Local Government situation rooms for real-time verification and emergency response.
Federal legislation guaranteeing legal protection and anonymity for informants.
Interactive Dialogue and Actionable Outcomes
During the interactive session, contributors discussed public distrust of law enforcement, political corruption, and illegal mining. A zonal commander from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) emphasized the link between drug abuse and crime, advocating for stricter sentencing for drug offenders and noting that the agency provides voluntary drug-integrity testing to assist families in early intervention.
The IEPA concluded the event by committing to synthesize the summit’s findings into actionable policy recommendations for security agencies, state governments, and grassroots organizations nationwide.
