Nigeria's North-West Security Summit Calls for Collective Action Against Insecurity

Security chiefs, government officials, and community leaders gathered in Gusau, Zamfara State, for the North-West Security Summit, themed "Appraising the Security Challenges in the North-West." The event, initiated by the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, aimed to foster deliberations and deep reflections on the region's pressing security issues.

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The security of the North-West is a collective responsibility and we are prepared to confront its challenges collectively.

Inspector General Disu, in his opening remarks, underscored the critical importance of the North-West region to Nigeria, citing its vast human, economic, and cultural significance. He acknowledged the severe security challenges, including banditry, kidnapping, arms proliferation, communal conflicts, and farmer-herder tensions, which threaten lives and livelihoods. However, Disu expressed confidence that these challenges, while serious, are not insurmountable.

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The North-West remains a region of enormous human, economic and cultural importance to Nigeria. It is home to millions of Nigerians, a region of rich traditions, vast agricultural potential, important commercial corridors and some of our most revered traditional institutions.

Disu stressed that effective security requires more than just multiplying operations. He called for a coherent, sustained, and intelligence-driven regional response, bolstered by political will, strong institutions, community participation, and genuine collaboration among all stakeholders. "No single security agency can secure the North-West alone," he stated, emphasizing the need for integrated efforts from the police, military, intelligence agencies, state governments, traditional institutions, and local communities.

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Yet, the region continues to confront serious security challenges, particularly banditry, kidnapping, arms proliferation, communal and ethnic conflicts, farmer-herder tensions, violent criminality and other forms of insecurity which threaten lives, livelihoods, economic activity and social cohesion. These challenges are serious. But they are not insurmountable.

Adding to the summit's discourse, Disu also expressed concern over ethnic profiling and labeling, identifying it as a significant setback to the ongoing campaign against banditry. The summit provided a platform for various stakeholders to share insights and strategize on comprehensive solutions to restore peace and stability in the North-West region.

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What is required is not simply a multiplication of security operations. What is required is a coherent, sustained and intelligence-driven regional response, supported by political will, strong institutions, community participation and genuine collaboration among all stakeholders.