The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called for stronger community policing as a lasting solution to insecurity across Nigeria.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Arewa Awareness Summit on Unity Against Insecurity in Kaduna, the Sultan said lasting peace can only be achieved when security agencies work closely with local communities.
Represented by the Chiroman Kano, Alhaji Adamu Lamido Sanusi, he said residents, especially young people, understand their communities better than anyone else and should play a greater role in gathering intelligence and preventing crime.
“I personally believe in community policing. To fight crime, we have to work with the people,” he said.
The Sultan said he regularly works with imams, religious leaders, youth groups and other community stakeholders to promote peace and improve security in his domain.
He stressed that intelligence gathering is crucial because community members are often the first to notice suspicious activities.
According to him, “the people in the community, especially the youth, are already in the community. They know the community and the areas better than anyone else.”
He added that closer cooperation between communities and security agencies would strengthen efforts to combat banditry, kidnapping and other crimes.
“So, this cooperation, this working together hand in hand, is highly important in fighting crime in our communities and in the country,” he affirmed.
The Sultan also praised the organisers of the summit, describing it as a valuable platform for sharing ideas and building partnerships against insecurity.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Arewa for Peace, Unity, Cohesion and Development Initiative, Dr Abdullahi Idris, said the meeting was organised to develop practical solutions to insecurity in Northern Nigeria.