The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has emphasized the need for increased community involvement in addressing the persistent security challenges facing Nigeria. Speaking at a town hall organized by the Kukah Centre for Peace in collaboration with Global Right, an NGO, the Sultan highlighted that factors such as bad governance, injustice, and inequality contribute to insecurity.
Represented by Dr. Jabbi Kilgore, the District Head of Kingori, the Sultan urged leaders at all levels to treat their subjects fairly and recognize that they would be held accountable for their actions. He noted that addressing insecurity requires a comprehensive approach that involves addressing root causes.
In his keynote address, Bishop Mathew Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese also identified religious intolerance, fanaticism, and injustice as critical factors contributing to insecurity in the country. He emphasized the importance of stakeholders coming together to form a united front against the menace, stressing that insecurity transcends religious boundaries.
Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto state, represented by Alhaji Abubakar Torankawa, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Religious Affairs, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to partnering with groups and associations to promote peaceful coexistence in the state.
The Sokoto state commissioner of police, Ali Kaigama, stressed the need for public support for community policing initiatives initiated by the Nigerian Police. Kaigama also highlighted ongoing collaborations between the police, the Nigerian army, and other security agencies in addressing insecurity.
Prof. Tukur Baba, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Federal University Birnin Kebbi, presented an overview of factors that have contributed to insecurity from pre-independence times.
He suggested that authorities consider changes to the land use act, and tax policies, and adopt global, regional, national, and community-based strategies to holistically address insecurity.
He also pointed out that the recent poverty index released by the National Bureau of Statistics reflects the impact of insecurity, maladministration, and economic challenges in the northwest region of Nigeria.
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