Presidential team, Defence Minister forge alliance for community-led security push

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

Presidential Community Engagement Team, on Friday, convened with the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), and top Ministry officials in Abuja, charting a bold path for collaboration on non-kinetic security strategies to foster peace nationwide.

Led by Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement in the North Central Region, Abiodun Essiet, the meeting zeroed in on harnessing community-driven efforts to complement military operations.

Discussions spotlighted critical areas like bolstering intelligence via grassroots networks, amplifying the Ministry’s interventions to local audiences, channeling community feedback upwards, and rebuilding trust between citizens and security forces. “We are excited about this partnership, which positions community engagement as a vital pillar in our fight against insecurity,” Essiet stated.  “By identifying synergies, we can enhance intelligence gathering, improve communication, and ensure citizens’ voices shape security responses.”

The parties sealed their commitment by agreeing to form a joint working team. Plans are underway for regional security summits, bringing together local, state, and federal officials alongside ordinary citizens to air concerns and drive actionable solutions. A direct communication hotline between the Ministry and the Engagement Team will streamline operations. Priorities include, rallying non-state actors, launching youth-focused programmes to deter involvement in crime, fortifying public trust, and tackling root causes of unrest.

“This collaboration marks a strategic shift towards inclusive peace building. Through youth engagement and feedback loops, we’ll address insecurity’s drivers head-on, ensuring no community is left behind,” Essiet added.