Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed grave concerns over Nigeria’s escalating insecurity, urging current leaders to take immediate action.
Speaking during a visit to Bauchi on Sunday, where he met with the Emir, Dr Rilwanu Adamu, Obasanjo said tackling insecurity requires the cooperation of local leaders, as many criminals live within communities, according to Daily Post.
Obasanjo reflected on his time in office, highlighting security as a top priority.
He advocated for community policing, citing its effectiveness in identifying and addressing criminal activity within communities.
The former president stressed that local leaders, traditional institutions, and citizens must work together to combat insecurity.
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, welcomed Obasanjo’s visit, attributing it to the state’s success in good governance.
Obasanjo was scheduled to commission two road projects completed under Mohammed’s administration, aimed at boosting development and transportation.
Obasanjo praised the state’s achievements, emphasizing the need for unity, peace, and collective support to move Nigeria forward.
His concerns about insecurity echo previous warnings, including a 2019 letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The visit sparked discussions on Nigeria’s security challenges and the role of community policing in addressing them. Obasanjo’s call to action underscores the urgency of the situation, prompting hopes for renewed efforts to combat insecurity.
Traditional institutions, including the Emir of Bauchi, Dr. Rilwanu Adamu, were urged to promote community policing within their domains. Obasanjo’s emphasis on collective responsibility highlights the need for a unified approach to tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.
His words “During our terms in office, we prioritized the security of lives and properties across the country. Right now, we need to do something urgently about this.
“The best form of security is community policing because everyone knows his/her neighbours within the community. With that, it is very easy to identify the bad eggs.”
“I am calling on traditional institutions to step in and encourage community policing within their environment in order to reduce the spate of committing crimes”
During our service to the nation, we did everything collectively, our decisions were taken together to have a uniform focus. My brother, Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu is seated here and he will bear me witness. Whatever we achieved then, was a collective effort.”
He added “We need peace, unity and collective support in this country if we must move forward. Things can be right and good again in the country, all we need to do is to get united and do things collectively.”
