Acute Insecurity: Experts recommend stronger community engagement

Some security experts have called on security agencies to raise the level of intelligence gathering, sharing and collaboration to address the security challenges in the country.

They also called for collaboration with communities to enhance policing and response to security breaches across the country.

The experts gave advice in separate interviews over recent attacks on schools and some communities by terrorists.

Gad Peter, the executive director of the Cleen Foundation, said the security agencies should block gaps in intelligence gathering to prevent attacks on schools and kidnappings.

Mr Peter said security agencies should also be deliberate in their response and deploy technology to prevent further attacks. He said building a strong network among security services and utilising technology to achieve results was essential.

“We need to see how state police will enhance local knowledge and local intelligence on communities because the kidnappers do not sleep on the highways. They sleep in communities.

“So, the security agencies must work with local communities to gather information and work with them in a trusted way that people will be ready to give out information,” he said.

Similarly, Hassan Sadique, Hansen Security Strategic Consult CEO, said security agencies must share intelligence and collaborate in other ways to tame the rising cases of abductions and attacks by criminal elements.

He also said that the security agencies should extricate saboteurs from among them.

Mr Sadique expressed optimism that if adopted, the measures would help thwart highway attacks.

The expert also advocated establishing security posts in all schools with a stand-by security team.

Mr Sadique advised the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to collaborate with states and other security agencies in information gathering and sharing and getting appropriate logistics for schools’ protection.

He further advised federal and state governments to ensure that schools across the country are fenced to prevent terrorists’ easy access. The expert said lawmakers should prioritise their constituents’ security by channelling some of their constituency projects into security.

Chris Adigwu, national president of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria, said members of the association should be formally utilised to provide intelligence reports to security agencies.

Mr Adigwu said the government should recognise private security guards as essential security service providers.

“The government should support PGCs to help reduce the workload on the military and paramilitary forces. Most operators of PGCs are experienced security practitioners, and the government should utilise their experiences,” he added.

He particularly called for their inclusion in the National Safe School programme.

Meanwhile, the commandant general of NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, said robust strategies have been developed to enhance school surveillance and protection.

According to him, the strategies have worked very well until the recent abduction of the Kuriga school children.

During a visit to Kaduna after the abduction, he said the NSCDC was working with other security agencies to reinforce safety in all schools nationwide.

“The corps has lined up its strategy, which I wouldn’t want to disclose as it is highly confidential.

“These guys are out there monitoring us, but I would like to assure Nigerians that the corps, alongside other security agencies, are working very closely to forestall future occurrence,’’ Mr Audi said.