The Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, has called for the arming of local communities to help tackle insecurity in Nigeria. He said communities should serve as the first line of defence before security agencies like the police and military step in.
Ajayi made this statement on Thursday during the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja. The event was attended by top security officials, including the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa.
Ajayi said the government should consider allowing local communities to bear arms, citing an example from Azare in Bauchi State, where residents reportedly fought off Boko Haram terrorists.
“We have to start experimenting with how we can make the community be a fist in the first line of defence,” he said. “We have to allow some level of armament for the communities, and they can serve as the first line of defence.”
He explained that security agencies cannot be everywhere at once and should focus on larger threats such as organized crime.
“You do not expect the Nigerian Army, police, and SSS to protect every Nigerian. It is not going to work,” he added.
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Ajayi urged security experts at the event to ensure that discussions on security lead to real action and not just talk. He also praised Chief of Defence Staff Musa for improving collaboration between the military and other security agencies.
Speaking at the event, Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa stressed the need for a broad and coordinated approach to tackling insecurity.
“From terrorism and cybercrime to transnational organized crime and climate-induced conflicts, the challenges we face are multifaceted and demand a holistic approach,” Musa said.
He emphasized the importance of intelligence gathering, technology, and strong partnerships in staying ahead of security threats.
“I am optimistic that this forum will delve into actionable strategies for mobilisation and collaboration, stressing the significance for practical collective action and shared responsibility,” he added.
During his opening speech, AANISS President Mike Ejiofor reflected on the assassination of former military head of state Murtala Muhammed in 1976, saying it changed the way Nigeria handled security and intelligence operations.
He noted that Muhammed’s killing during a failed coup exposed major weaknesses in Nigeria’s security system.
“The trajectory of the establishment, development, and growth of our nation’s homeland security can, therefore, not be complete without proper reference to the event of 13th February 1976,” Ejiofor said.
He explained that in response to the coup, the military government reassigned the then-governor of Plateau State, Abdullahi Mohammed, to set up and lead the National Security Organisation (NSO). The NSO later became the foundation for the SSS, the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Ejiofor said AANISS was created to use the expertise of professionals from different security backgrounds to help fight insecurity. He also noted that the presence of top security officials at the event showed how serious the issue of insecurity is in Nigeria.