Tinubu Orders Involvement Of Locals In Tackling Insecurity

By Ayodele Oni

When it seems all strategies to tackle insecurity in the country have failed, the focus now will be coopting local communities, local councils and state governors in the onslaught against banditry.

There has been clamour for state police by ethnic organizations, especially Afenifere in addressing the rising insecurity challenges in the country.

At the end of a marathon meeting with security chiefs in Abuja on Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu seems to have agreed with the involvement of the locals in the fight against insurgency.

Briefing State House Correspondents after the meeting,  National Security Adviser, (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu revealed that the President highlighted the need to involve the local councils and state governments more in tackling insecurity cases.

“The issue of insecurity often is not just at the higher levels. It involves the subunits. They are the ones who are directly with the people, especially when some of the challenges border on community problems.

“We need to work with the communities. We need to work with the local governments, and we need to work with the governors.

“The President directed that we work more with governors.”

Ribadu noted that the President was “very worried and concerned” at the meeting.

“He said, ‘Enough is enough’. We are working to ensure that we restore peace and security. We were all at the meeting with the President, armed forces, police, and intelligence community.”

The NSA said the attackers usually target innocent citizens by planting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and targeting ungoverned areas.

According to the NSA, President Tinubu  directed an immediate and comprehensive overhaul of national security strategies, demanding urgent action to end the escalating violence in Borno, Benue, Plateau and Kwara states.

The President insisted that the killing of innocent people in Borno, Benue and Plateau States must cease.

“Enough is enough,” President Tinubu declared as he once again condemned the senseless targeting of innocent Nigerians.

The NSA said President Tinubu ordered a new approach to tackling the insecurity problems.

Ribadu noted that President Tinubu was also actively monitoring and giving instructions during his work visit to Paris and London.

“Mr President gave us the chance to come and brief him again. It lasted very long. We gave him an update on what was going on.

“Even when he was out there, he was constantly in touch, giving directives and following developments.

“Today, we had the opportunity to come and brief him again, and it lasted hours. It was a very detailed briefing, and it was exhaustive.

“We listened, and we took instructions from him. He gave us new directives. The fact is that Mr President is insisting that we work harder to restore security in the country.

“We gave him information on what has been happening and assured him of our commitment.

“We had carried out his instructions. We went to places with incidences of insecurity, such as Plateau, Benue, and Borno States.

“We went to those particular three states. We gave him feedback because he had directed us earlier to go and meet with the political authorities there.”