Rights Group Calls for Community-Led Security Tactics as Kogi Faces Rising Threats
LOKOJA– A human rights organization has called for a shift in Nigeria’s security approach, saying the current situation is “worrisome” and requires new tactics anchored on community resilience and intelligence sharing.
Idris Miliki Abdul, Executive Director of Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, CHRICR, made the call in a statement issued in Lokoja, Kogi State. He argued that top-down policing alone cannot address banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.
“The current security situation is worrisome, a new tactics is required,” Miliki Abdul said. “Community Resilience is the key. Building community support on intelligence gathering can assist greatly.”
- Advertisement -
Key Recommendations
The CHRICR director outlined several steps for state and local authorities:
1. State Responsibility: “States government must also take responsibility in the security apparatus in their various locations,” he stated, urging governors to do more than rely on federal forces.
2. Village Security Committees: Miliki Abdul proposed that “security communities comprising various serving and retired persons should be put in place by each and every village, in every local government.” He said retired military, police, and other security personnel living in rural areas can provide experience and local knowledge.
3. Timely Information Sharing: He stressed that “information should be timely share among communities” to prevent attacks and enable rapid response.
4. Recruit More Vigilantes: Both state and local governments, he said, should “recruit more vigilantes” to complement formal security agencies at the grassroots.
5. Deploy Technology: Miliki Abdul called for investment in technology “for intelligence gathering and information dissemination,” noting that digital tools can help communities report threats faster.
His recommendations come amid continued concerns over highway attacks and kidnappings in Kogi and neighboring states. The Kogi State Police Command recently launched the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU, to improve response time to violent incidents.
CHRICR, based in Lokoja, works on human rights, conflict prevention, and security sector accountability across North-Central Nigeria.
Miliki Abdul urged government, traditional rulers, youth groups, and citizens to treat security as a collective responsibility rather than leaving it solely to security agencies.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JUNE 5TH 2026)
