The Northern Stakeholders Consultative Initiative has called on President Bola Tinubu to prioritise the establishment of a robust national intelligence framework that will enhance collaboration among the nation’s security agencies.
Its Convener, Mr. Yerima Shettima, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
Shettima said effective intelligence gathering and sharing remained central to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
According to him, the proposed framework should emphasise real-time data collection, analysis and dissemination to enable swift responses to emerging threats.
“By fostering a culture of inter-agency cooperation, the government can build a more comprehensive understanding of security dynamics across regions, enabling proactive rather than reactive measures,” he said.
Shettima noted that insecurity often thrives where communities feel alienated from government. He urged the President to initiate programmes that promote community engagement and partnerships between citizens and security agencies.
He added that community policing initiatives would empower local residents to actively participate in ensuring their own safety while strengthening trust in law enforcement.
Shettima also called for training community leaders to recognise and report suspicious activities, and for involving traditional leaders and local organisations in security discussions to ensure strategies reflect the cultural and social realities of each region.
He said leveraging technology would significantly improve the operational efficiency of security agencies and make it harder for criminal elements to evade detection.
“The integration of technology into law enforcement can streamline communication channels, enabling quicker responses to incidents nationwide,” he said.
Beyond immediate security steps, Shettima stressed the need to address the socio-economic conditions—poverty, unemployment and inequality—that fuel crime. He urged the government to invest in education, vocational training and job creation to reduce the vulnerability of young people to extremist recruitment.
Deploy Full Military Strength Against Terrorists — Kila
Also speaking, Prof. Anthony Kila, a professor of strategy and development and Director of the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), urged President Tinubu to deploy the full force of the country’s military, intelligence assets and modern technology to crush criminal networks.
Kila said Nigeria must confront terrorists and kidnappers with “legitimate and superior force,” including massive deployment of personnel to insurgency-ravaged states.
“We are at war with terrorists. A lot of people believe we need to deploy all we can to destroy these people,” he said.
He urged the President to direct security agencies to expose any corruption or collusion with terrorists within their ranks.
Kila also called for tighter border monitoring to stem the smuggling of arms and ammunition, and advised the government to seek or accept support from West African partners and the wider international community in the fight against terrorism.
