A former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Martin Luther-Agwai, has called for a collaborative approach to address insecurity in Nigeria.
Mr Agwai made the call while speaking to the media at the sideline of the 18th Annual International Conference and General Assembly of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) held at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) on Wednesday in Kaduna.
The conference, themed “Community Engagement: Networking Kinetic and Non-Kinetic Capabilities for Tackling Insecurity in Africa”, was organised in collaboration with the NDA.
Mr Agwai emphasised the need for community engagement in tackling insecurity across the country, adding, “Ensuring security is the responsibility of all.”
The former CDS explained that insecurity was a complex phenomenon driven by various factors, including poverty, unemployment, political instability, and social inequality.
He added that the drivers of insecurity were often interconnected and required a comprehensive approach to address.
Stressing the importance of community engagement, Mr Agwai said “It enables the identification and addressing of underlying causes of insecurity.”
He urged governments, civil society organisations, and citizens to work together to build trust and promote peace.
Urging a holistic approach that incorporates education, economic development and social welfare, he said the sole reliance on military force was insufficient.
(NAN)
