The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has identified community policing as the most effective path toward ending Nigeria’s widespread insecurity. During the Arewa Awareness Summit on Unity Against Insecurity held in Kaduna on Wednesday, the Sultan emphasized that national stability depends on a collaborative partnership between local citizens and security personnel.
Speaking through his representative, the Chiroman Kano, Alhaji Adamu Lamido Sanusi, the Sultan highlighted that local residents, particularly the youth, possess the best knowledge of their neighborhoods. He argued that these individuals are perfectly positioned to collect vital intelligence and intercept criminal activity before it escalates. The Sultan routinely engages with local imams, religious figures, and youth leaders to foster peace within his jurisdiction.
He underscored that prompt identification of suspicious behavior by community members is essential to effective law enforcement. By deepening ties between security agencies and the public, Nigeria can better confront threats like kidnapping and banditry. Furthermore, the Sultan commended the summit organizers for creating a forum dedicated to building coalitions against insecurity. Dr. Abdullahi Idris, the Director-General of the Arewa for Peace, Unity, Cohesion and Development Initiative, noted that the event was designed to generate actionable solutions to address instability in the northern region.
