Insecurity: Tinubu’s security push insufficient without citizens’ involvement — Agbambu

PoliticsInsecurity: Tinubu’s security push insufficient without citizens’ involvement — Agbambu
*Citizens’ Role Key to Ending Insecurity, Says Security Watch Africa CEO* President Bola Tinubu’s drive to address insecurity in Nigeria will not produce lasting success without direct citizen participation, says Patrick Agbambu, President and CEO of Security Watch Africa Initiatives.¹ Speaking on the wider security challenge during an interview on ARISE News, Agbambu emphasised that tackling insurgency is a whole-of-society task. He warned that relying on military operations alone can only bring temporary relief. *Beyond Military Action* Agbambu argued that Nigeria’s security problems continue partly because citizens have not fully taken up their part in the fight against insurgents and criminal gangs.² “Nigeria as a country and as a people has refused to believe that the fight against insurgency is not only for the government or the military,” he said. He explained that the effectiveness of any security plan rests heavily on public involvement and active cooperation with security agencies. *Community Ownership Needed* “The Nigerian people must own this fight,” Agbambu stated, noting that community backing is essential to defeating insecurity.³ He added that no level of troop deployment will be fully effective unless communities collectively choose to reject and resist criminal elements operating in their areas. According to him, information sharing, vigilance, and denying safe haven to armed groups are practical ways citizens can support security forces. Without that partnership, he said, gains made by the military risk being reversed. *Whole-of-Society Approach* Agbambu called for stronger collaboration between government, traditional institutions, religious leaders, youth groups, and local residents. He noted that intelligence from communities often determines the success of operations against bandits, terrorists, and kidnappers. “Security agencies cannot be everywhere at once. But when citizens see security as their business, the space for criminals to operate shrinks,” he said. *Call to Action* He urged the federal and state governments to deepen public sensitisation, build trust between communities and security operatives, and create safe channels for reporting suspicious activity. For Agbambu, ending insecurity requires a shift in mindset: from seeing security as the sole job of uniformed personnel to treating it as a shared national responsibility. Want me to outline a step-by-step guide on how communities can set up local security support networks?
*Citizens’ Role Key to Ending Insecurity, Says Security Watch Africa CEO* President Bola Tinubu’s drive to address insecurity in Nigeria will not produce lasting success without direct citizen participation, says Patrick Agbambu, President and CEO of Security Watch Africa Initiatives.¹ Speaking on the wider security challenge during an interview on ARISE News, Agbambu emphasised that tackling insurgency is a whole-of-society task. He warned that relying on military operations alone can only bring temporary relief. *Beyond Military Action* Agbambu argued that Nigeria’s security problems continue partly because citizens have not fully taken up their part in the fight against insurgents and criminal gangs.² “Nigeria as a country and as a people has refused to believe that the fight against insurgency is not only for the government or the military,” he said. He explained that the effectiveness of any security plan rests heavily on public involvement and active cooperation with security agencies. *Community Ownership Needed* “The Nigerian people must own this fight,” Agbambu stated, noting that community backing is essential to defeating insecurity.³ He added that no level of troop deployment will be fully effective unless communities collectively choose to reject and resist criminal elements operating in their areas. According to him, information sharing, vigilance, and denying safe haven to armed groups are practical ways citizens can support security forces. Without that partnership, he said, gains made by the military risk being reversed. *Whole-of-Society Approach* Agbambu called for stronger collaboration between government, traditional institutions, religious leaders, youth groups, and local residents. He noted that intelligence from communities often determines the success of operations against bandits, terrorists, and kidnappers. “Security agencies cannot be everywhere at once. But when citizens see security as their business, the space for criminals to operate shrinks,” he said. *Call to Action* He urged the federal and state governments to deepen public sensitisation, build trust between communities and security operatives, and create safe channels for reporting suspicious activity. For Agbambu, ending insecurity requires a shift in mindset: from seeing security as the sole job of uniformed personnel to treating it as a shared national responsibility. Want me to outline a step-by-step guide on how communities can set up local security support networks?
Rufai Abdulmalik
By Rufai Abdulmalik

President Bola Tinubu’s drive to address insecurity in Nigeria will not produce lasting success without direct citizen participation, says Patrick Agbambu, President and CEO of Security Watch Africa Initiatives.¹

Speaking on the wider security challenge during an interview on ARISE News, Agbambu emphasised that tackling insurgency is a whole-of-society task. He warned that relying on military operations alone can only bring temporary relief.

Beyond Military Action
Agbambu argued that Nigeria’s security problems continue partly because citizens have not fully taken up their part in the fight against insurgents and criminal gangs.²

“Nigeria as a country and as a people has refused to believe that the fight against insurgency is not only for the government or the military,” he said.

He explained that the effectiveness of any security plan rests heavily on public involvement and active cooperation with security agencies.

Community Ownership Needed
“The Nigerian people must own this fight,” Agbambu stated, noting that community backing is essential to defeating insecurity.³

He added that no level of troop deployment will be fully effective unless communities collectively choose to reject and resist criminal elements operating in their areas.

According to him, information sharing, vigilance, and denying safe haven to armed groups are practical ways citizens can support security forces. Without that partnership, he said, gains made by the military risk being reversed.

Whole-of-Society Approach
Agbambu called for stronger collaboration between government, traditional institutions, religious leaders, youth groups, and local residents. He noted that intelligence from communities often determines the success of operations against bandits, terrorists, and kidnappers.

“Security agencies cannot be everywhere at once. But when citizens see security as their business, the space for criminals to operate shrinks,” he said.

Call to Action
He urged the federal and state governments to deepen public sensitisation, build trust between communities and security operatives, and create safe channels for reporting suspicious activity.

For Agbambu, ending insecurity requires a shift in mindset: from seeing security as the sole job of uniformed personnel to treating it as a shared national responsibility.

Want me to outline a step-by-step guide on how communities can set up local security support networks?

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