From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Director General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi, has said that communities should play a crucial role in securing themselves against criminal elements, stating that they must serve as the first line of defence.
Speaking at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies in Abuja on Thursday, Ajayi recalled historical instances, where communities successfully defended themselves against terrorists particularly in Azare and Tafawa Balewa in Bauchi State.
Ajayi, who was serving in Bauchi State at the time, said, “Most of you will remember an incident in Azare, when a group of terrorists, Boko Haram, invaded Azare, and were shooting in an attempt to kidnap, but the community chased them away.
“They killed some members of the community, but the community members killed all of them. The last guy, Khaled, climbed onto a tree and was shot. The community stood their ground, they were resilient, and they killed Khaled.
He said: “Since that day, there has not been a single terrorist attack in Azare to date.
Continuing, Ajayi, emphasised: “As a matter of fact, the former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, said, and I quote: ‘If we want to stop this terrorism, we should learn from them.’
“Tafawa Balewa also used to be a local government area in Bauchi that was always in turmoil. The people of Bogoro and some parts of Tafawa Balewa rose up on one occasion. They knew their territory better, climbing onto trees and mountains when the invaders came. They did not only repel them, but they also seized their weapons, and since then, you can hardly hear of any attacks in that community.
“What I’m trying to say is that the practical approach to mobilising people is to get everyone involved.”