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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
Stakeholders including traditional rulers, civil society organisations and government officials have renewed calls for indigenous security solutions, deployment of modern technology and the introduction of state police to tackle rising insecurity across the country.
Chairman of the zone’s interactive hearings of the 10th Senate’s ad-hoc committee on the National Security Summit, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru (Lagos East), said the region must act collectively to prevent escalating threats.
“While the South-West has not experienced the full brunt of terrorism as in some other regions, the rise in banditry, kidnapping, and violent crimes across our states is deeply troubling,” he said.
“Our villages and farmlands have come under increasing threat; farmer-herder clashes have been on the increase, our highways have seen more daring incidents, and the disturbing spread of armed groups such as the reported Lakurawa incursion into parts of Kwara and Kogi underscores the urgent need for proactive measures. If decisive action is not taken, the danger could spill fully into the South-West geo-political zone.”
He warned that the region must not “become a sanctuary for criminality or a battleground for those who seek to destabilise our nation,” urging stakeholders to use “every resource – human, material and technological – to defend our communities.”
Abiru also appealed to the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities, adding that “No effort is too small in the quest to secure the South-West Zone and our nation. Security is a collective responsibility.”
He further urged the media to consider their role in national stability. “We must promote narratives that strengthen unity, inspire confidence, and avoid framing our national challenges along ethnic or religious lines. Let us strive to paint a positive and reassuring picture of our country,” he said.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to strengthening its security architecture. He said governors in the region must adopt a unified approach.
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“As governors of this region, we must reaffirm our commitment to a regional security framework, which includes transforming Amotekun into a more unified, well-equipped, technology-driven command that can facilitate cross-state intelligence sharing and joint operations,” he said.
He noted that insecurity directly affects economic growth. “Security is not just about keeping the peace; it is about ensuring our economic survival. When insecurity disrupts markets, farmlands, transportation, and investment, our GDP takes a hit, livelihoods crumble, and growth stalls. A region that cannot promise safety cannot promise prosperity either.”
Senator Ibrahim Jimoh (Ondo South), sponsor of the bill establishing the National Security Summit, said terrorism and insurgency require non-conventional approaches involving both military and civilian efforts. Senator Gbenga Daniel (Ogun East) also called for collaborative efforts among stakeholders.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, stressed the importance of sustaining current momentum, saying security challenges are largely local and require local solutions.
Traditional rulers also made submissions. The Alara of Ilara in Epe, Lagos, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, called for community policing, use of modern technology, a joint task force of all security agencies, expanded police recruitment, increased funding and improved equipment.
He added that more employment opportunities would help curb youth restiveness. He commended President Bola Tinubu’s collaboration with international partners but said weak grassroots structures continued to impede progress.
The Aare Onakankanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, maintained that establishing state police remains a key solution to tackling insecurity nationwide.
Representatives of civil society organisations, women, youths, and Christian and Islamic leaders also urged improved welfare packages for security operatives to enhance their motivation and effectiveness.
