By Eniola Philip and Joy Joseph
A former Deputy Director of the State Security Service [SSS], Brigadier-General Kunle Togun (Rtd); the Director-General of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria [DAWN] Commission, Dr. Seye Oyeleye; a prominent voice in the Majeobaje Initiative, Chief Akintayo Akin-Deko; a security expert and academic, Prof. Femi Olufunmilade, and others, on Tuesday, called for policy reforms and grassroots intelligence to strengthen security.
They made the call during a safety alert conference convened by Majeobaje Community Development Initiative which was held at Pentonrise, Awolowo Road Roundabout, Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The programme, themed: “How to Secure Your Community”, brought together traditional leaders, civil society actors, security experts, and grassroots stakeholders for a frank dialogue on local solutions to the ongoing security crisis.
The security experts and community leaders, who shared practical strategies to strengthen safety and resilience across communities, harped on the need to strengthen neighbourhood watch groups, revive traditional security systems, and put community-led safety at the centre of public security efforts.
In his remarks, Togun emphasised the urgent need for grassroots intelligence gathering, community policing, and inter-community coordination.
He advocated a stronger collaboration between residents and traditional authorities to detect and neutralise threats before they escalate.
“The enemy does not always come with guns; sometimes, it starts with a strange face asking innocent questions,” he warned. “We must train our eyes and ears to see beyond the surface. The safety of our communities lies in our unity and alertness.”
Dr. Oyeleye lauded the timing and relevance of the meeting, urging communities to embrace a culture of proactive vigilance and collective responsibility.
“Vigilance and security consciousness are what brought us here today,” he said. “This meeting is a meaningful step in the right direction, and it is essential that communities become more deliberate and united in addressing security concerns.”
He urged residents to build local safety networks, improve communication between neighbourhoods, and maintain strong ties with local law enforcement and traditional institutions.
In his remarks, a security expert and academic, Prof. Olufunmilade warned that a growing influx of migrants, including herders, has exacerbated land use conflicts, triggered food insecurity, and sparked violent clashes in farming regions.
“Many communities in Yewa, Ibarapa, and Oke-Ogun are under siege,” he said. “We are seeing the displacement of farmers, the destruction of livelihoods, and the loss of innocent lives.”
Olufunmilade emphasised the need for long-term policy reforms that address the root causes of insecurity, not just the symptoms.
Akin-Deko, in a keynote address, stressed the irreplaceable role of neighbours and local networks in responding swiftly to emergencies.
“It is the help that your neighbor or community renders at the time of an emergency that will likely determine your chances of survival,” Chief Akin-Deko stated.
Adding a cultural and political dimension to the discussion, Dr. Bukola Adeniji, Secretary-General of the advocacy group Think Yoruba First, made a compelling case for ethno-linguistic federalism as a strategic solution to the erosion of Yoruba identity and security.
“Restructuring Nigeria along ethno-linguistic lines would allow each group to maintain greater control over its language, culture, and governance,” Dr. Adeniji argued. “Only then can Yoruba heritage be fully protected from marginalisation and gradual erasure.”
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