The Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, has called for the arming of local communities to serve as the first line of defence against insurgency and security threats.
Speaking at the maiden annual lecture of the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja on Thursday, Mr. Ajayi emphasized the need to empower communities to defend themselves before the intervention of the police, military, and other security agencies.
He cited a notable incident in Azare, Bauchi State, where local residents successfully repelled an attack by Boko Haram terrorists, demonstrating the potential effectiveness of community-led defence efforts.
Communities as First Responders to Insecurity
According to Mr. Ajayi, relying solely on the Nigerian Army, police, and intelligence services to secure every community is unrealistic. He argued that security forces should focus on organized crime and larger security threats, while local communities take on immediate defence responsibilities.
“We must start experimenting with how to make communities a first line of defence. Security agencies cannot be deployed to every village, so communities should be allowed some level of armament to protect themselves,” he stated.
Call for Actionable Security Measures
Other high-profile security officials at the event included National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa. Mr. Ajayi commended Mr. Musa for promoting collaboration between the military and security agencies, urging stakeholders to translate discussions into concrete actions to combat insecurity.
His remarks reignite the debate on community-based security strategies, as Nigeria continues to grapple with insurgency, banditry, and violent crime.
