•Tinubu and terrorists
Accredited Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) in the country have called for a shift to a more inclusive, community-driven approach to tackling insecurity, urging the federal government to deepen collaboration with grassroots actors.
Director-General of the Civil Society Organisations on Community Advancement and Humanitarian Empowerment Initiative, Kunle Yusuff, in a statement yesterday, said the evolving nature of insecurity across the country demands strategies that go beyond conventional responses, stressing that communities must be placed at the centre of prevention and early warning efforts.
In the joint position, the organisations noted that their extensive grassroots presence provides unique access to local intelligence, early warning signals, and trust-based networks that can curb violence before it escalates, reports The Guardian.
They emphasised that stronger engagement between government agencies and civil society actors would enhance intelligence gathering, improve situational awareness, and promote active community participation in security initiatives.
According to the groups, community-driven mechanisms, including local dialogue platforms, conflict resolution structures, and peacebuilding initiatives, remain critical in addressing tensions and preventing crises in vulnerable areas.
They also underscored the importance of integrating technology with local knowledge, noting that effective security management requires a blend of modern tools and community-based intelligence.
Equally, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Sokoto chapter, has called on the federal government to take urgent and decisive steps to address the worsening insecurity across the state and the wider northern region.
State CAN Chairman, Kayode Moses James, made the call yesterday during an Easter Praise and Prayer for Peace gathering in Sokoto.
He said the security situation, marked by banditry, kidnapping, and violent attacks, has continued to instil fear and hardship in residents, cutting across religious and ethnic lines.
“We cannot gather today without acknowledging the cloud of insecurity that hangs over our state and many parts of the North,” James said.
“Lives have been lost, communities displaced, and farmers prevented from accessing their farmlands,” he added.
Meanwhile, four persons are feared to have been killed in an attack on communities in the Gebbe District of the Shanga Local Council of Kebbi State on Sunday by suspected bandits.
The attackers were said to have emerged from their hideout in Wawa Forest in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, which borders the affected communities in Shanga.
Some buildings were also set ablaze during the attack that affected Kalkami, Tungar Bori, and Kawara communities, among others.
Available information confirmed that, in addition to Kalkami, the suspected bandits also burnt down Kawara village yesterday.
Across all the affected communities, an undisclosed number of deaths and casualties were recorded.
A resident, who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, stated that four people have so far lost their lives as a result of the attack.
Vice Chairman of Shanga Local Government Area, Adamu Hamza Gebbe, confirmed the incident, noting that this was not the first time bandits had attacked the area.
Also condemning the incident in a phone conversation, the District Head of Gebbe, Haruna Usman, said residents had fled the communities.
According to him, some people are currently taking refuge on Gungu Island, while others remain in the forests.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Kebbi State Police Command, Bashir Usman, for comments were abortive as he did not respond to calls at press time.
