Adeola Ajayi, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), has called on communities across the Country to actively participate in safeguarding their areas against armed groups, emphasising that security agencies alone cannot tackle the growing insecurity.
Ajayi made the appeal while speaking at the maiden annual lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja.
The event, themed “Mobilising Stakeholders to Curb Insecurity in Nigeria: A Practical Approach,” brought together top security experts, policymakers, and community leaders to discuss collaborative strategies in the fight against crime.
“The practical approach to curbing insecurity is to get everyone involved. The military and police cannot be everywhere. Communities must be the first line of defence”, Ajayi stated.
He referenced past examples of communities that successfully repelled insurgent attacks, highlighting the case of Azare in Bauchi State, where residents fought off Boko Haram terrorists several years ago.
“They killed some members of the community, but the community members killed all of them.The last guy, Khalid, climbed onto a tree and was firing. The community people killed him too. Since that day, there has been no terrorist attack on that community”, Ajayi recalled.
The DSS chief also cited Tafa Balewa, another Bauchi community, where locals resisted invaders, seized their weapons, and successfully protected their territory.
Ajayi stressed the importance of rekindling the communal spirit for which Nigerian communities are known, urging influential individuals to support local security efforts.
“Our culture is communal; we do things together—festivals, ceremonies—so why can’t we fight miscreants together?”, he asked.
“The community should say, ‘You cannot come here.’ This is what Tafa Balewa has done. If you go there to attack, you would be sorry for yourself”, he added.
He called on community leaders to collaborate with security agencies to establish clear protocols for grassroots security initiatives.
According to him, this proactive engagement would serve as a deterrent to criminal activities, particularly in vulnerable areas.
“Some of us who have influence, the elites in society, should discuss with communities, come to us, get some sort of approval and guidance, and together we can stop these criminals,” he added.
The lecture also featured insights from other security experts, who echoed Ajayi’s call for community participation in national security efforts, stressing that a united front between security agencies and citizens is crucial to curbing the insecurity that has plagued parts of the country.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
