In a renewed effort to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has endorsed community policing as a crucial strategy for enhancing national security. He also urged greater citizen participation in intelligence gathering and community engagement.
Speaking during a high-level security engagement, General Musa highlighted the urgent need for Nigerians to embrace their role as stakeholders in the country’s security framework. He described community involvement as the “first line of defence” and called on educated members of society to take the lead in mobilizing and sensitizing their communities.
“This is the best time to implement this initiative and strengthen the fabric of our national security framework,” Gen. Musa stated. “Educated individuals must step forward, engage with their communities, and share their concerns and suggestions. We are ready to work together.”
His remarks came in alignment with a recent call by the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) advocating for active public participation in securing the nation.
General Musa cited a successful example in Maiduguri, Borno State, where a community-led initiative saw local youths, after undergoing military and police vetting, trained and integrated into joint security operations. According to him, the effort significantly contributed to curbing insecurity in the area.
He stressed that security is a shared responsibility and urged states across the federation to collaborate with the armed forces and relevant agencies in implementing similar community-focused measures.
“We want the states to know that we are working together. National security is a collective responsibility,” he said.
Security analysts have welcomed the CDS’s position as a timely and strategic shift towards inclusive security, praising the emphasis on grassroots collaboration as a step toward sustainable peace and crime reduction.
