Owning the Wars

Attacks by criminal groups have become the new normal for several communities across Nigeria. Security intelligence has not significantly prevented some attacks from happening nor nipped them in the bud. Arguably, there is a disconnect between security responses, residents and local intelligence. Also, the rise of informal non-state security actors has not directly led to a robust collaboration between the public and security agencies. Instead, there appears to be a disjointed array of combative responses by state and non-state security providers to rising violent criminality in the country.

Despite the new waves of resilience in many communities prone to attacks, some challenges have persisted. Community vigilance has not made it to the front burner of security discourses and arrangements. Therefore, the rise of security consciousness and informal security provisions have not been reflected in community vigilance and rapid responses. For instance, the apprehended suspects of the Owo massacre were said to have been hosted by a community resident. Also, in bandits-rampaged locations in northwest and northcentral, several conspirators and informants of the bandits\’ groups have been arrested. In May 2022, the Police in Anambra state accused residents of unwillingness to provide information about gunmen terrorising the state.

While informal security provisions increase, they should lead to greater community vigilance and state-society security collaborations. Nigeria\’s security organisations should increase their engagement with the public in building partnerships toward crime prevention and combative response. Trust deficits enable the disconnect between the public and the police force and, by extension, other security organisations. Also, the trend significantly contributes to the incidents of mob violence or jungle justice. A 2014 survey conducted by NOI-POLL, a country-specific polling service in West Africa, revealed that 51 per cent of Nigerians attribute the high prevalence of jungle justice to a \’lack of trust in the law enforcement agencies. Therefore, the spread of informal security provisioning should mean increased state-community collaborations on securitisation.

Community and security operatives should be reconnected. Stability in Nigeria\’s violent hotbeds cannot be guaranteed or sustained without the cooperation of residents. Nigerian security operatives need to create fruitful collaborations between them and the public. War against criminal groups should be seen as a collective effort, not security agents\’ exclusive reserve. Nigeria\’s security operatives must work with community stakeholders while solidifying synergy across all law enforcement units. Securitisation in fragile regions should be based on a local approach that involves community members. There are strong arguments that policing in small communities is easier because community members know themselves and most people live up to the community\’s shared ideals to be regarded as esteemed community members. The argument also holds that the system of informal rewards and punishments is the most potent aid to law enforcement in such places.

Nigeria\’s security operatives should support the informal structures that serve as law enforcement in areas prone to attacks. Banditry in the North-west usually occurs in rural areas. The involvement of local people with bandits suggests that informal structures that keep people in check have either failed or are too weak to hold people accountable. These informal structures include traditional institutions, religious organisations, and locally-based civil society groups. Security agencies in the country should seek the support of these valuable informal actors through strategic meetings, workshops and projects. Applying a non-combative approach to insecurity will drive local support for the law enforcement agencies and establish fruitful partnerships for local intelligence and collaboration in crime prevention. The people must be able to feel the commitment of the Nigerian forces toward their well-being and protection. Effective communication and public partnerships will help restore public confidence, leading to crime prevention and rapid responses. The tide of insecurity in Nigeria requires a holistic sense of ownership and involvement of all in addressing the challenges.