Professor Tajudeen Okekunle Hamsat has called for collective action by government, traditional institutions, religious leaders, families and citizens to address the growing security challenges confronting Nigeria.
Hamsat, who spoke in Tede while delivering a lecture titled “Rethinking Security in Our Homeland: Evolving Challenges and Collective Responses,” said the nature of insecurity had changed significantly due to advances in communication technology, increased mobility, porous borders, illicit financial flows and organised criminal networks.
He said security could no longer be viewed solely as crime prevention, stressing that governance, economic opportunities, technological development, environmental sustainability, demographic pressures and social cohesion were equally important.
According to him, kidnapping has evolved from isolated criminal incidents into an organised and largely financially motivated enterprise, with farmers, traders, students, religious leaders, traditional rulers, transport operators and travellers among its victims.
He said the consequences extended beyond the immediate trauma suffered by victims, as kidnapping discourages investment, disrupts education, reduces agricultural productivity and undermines public confidence.
Hamsat also identified banditry and terrorism as major transformations in Nigeria’s security landscape, noting that criminal groups increasingly exploit forests, difficult terrain, weak institutional presence and state boundaries.
He warned that resource-rich areas could become vulnerable to criminal exploitation, particularly where valuable minerals were found alongside weak governance.
“The security question is ultimately broader than the question of who carries the gun. It is about who controls territory, who controls resources, who benefits from their exploitation, and whether the institutions of the Nigerian state are strong enough to take ownership of the situation,” he said.
The professor further identified the weakening of traditional institutions and family values as contributing factors to insecurity.
He noted that traditional rulers, chiefs, elders and age-grade associations previously played significant roles in monitoring communities, resolving disputes and identifying threats at an early stage.
While acknowledging the continued relevance of traditional rulers, he said urbanisation and changing social structures had weakened communal cohesion and reduced the influence of some traditional institutions.
Hamsat also expressed concern over the erosion of moral authority when individuals entrusted with leadership became associated with questionable conduct.
He identified youth unemployment, economic frustration and the growing population of out-of-school children as other factors capable of increasing vulnerability to criminal recruitment.
According to him, young people deprived of meaningful opportunities could be attracted to criminal networks by promises of quick money, recognition and a sense of belonging.
He therefore urged governments and communities to treat youth employment and skills development as security strategies, rather than merely economic programmes.
Hamsat also described drug abuse as a “fuel for violence”, saying the misuse of substances such as codeine-based cough syrups, tramadol, cannabis, methamphetamine and other illicit drugs could impair judgment, reduce self-control and increase aggression.
To address the challenges, he proposed a community-led security framework anchored on collective responsibility.
He recommended the institutionalisation of an Annual Community Security Summit involving traditional rulers, community leaders, security agencies, hunters, vigilante groups, youth organisations, women leaders, religious leaders, professional associations and members of the diaspora.
He said such a summit should review emerging threats, assess existing security strategies and agree on practical measures for the year ahead.
He also advocated the establishment of a Community Security Trust Fund to provide sustainable funding for legitimate community-based security initiatives.
Hamsat further called for greater investment in youth employment and skills development, including vocational training, digital entrepreneurship, agribusiness and environmental restoration.
He urged citizens to see security as a collective responsibility rather than an exclusive duty of security agencies.
“Every parent who raises responsible children contributes to security. Every teacher who instils discipline contributes to security. Every traditional ruler who promotes unity contributes to security. Every religious leader who preaches peace contributes to security. Every youth who rejects criminality contributes to security. Every citizen who reports suspicious activities contributes to security,” he said.
He urged participants to become ambassadors of peace in their homes, workplaces, farms and communities, stressing that early reporting of suspicious activities and community participation could strengthen security.
Hamsat said collective responsibility remained the foundation of community security, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and committed to preserving peace, unity and prosperity for future generations.