The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called for stronger community policing, describing it as a critical strategy for tackling insecurity across Nigeria.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Arewa Awareness Summit on Unity Against Insecurity in Kaduna, the Sultan said sustainable peace can only be achieved when security agencies work closely with local communities.
Represented at the event by the Chiroman Kano, Alhaji Adamu Lamido Sanusi, the monarch stressed that community members, particularly young people, possess valuable knowledge of their environment and should play a greater role in intelligence gathering and crime prevention.
“I personally believe in community policing. To fight crime, we have to work with the people,” he said.
The Sultan explained that he regularly collaborates with imams, religious leaders, youth groups, and other community stakeholders to promote peace and strengthen security within his domain.
He emphasised that intelligence gathering remains essential because residents are often the first to identify suspicious activities in their communities.
According to him, local youths understand their communities better than anyone else, making them key partners in efforts to combat insecurity.
The monarch added that stronger cooperation between communities and security agencies would significantly improve the fight against banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities across the country.
“This cooperation, this working together hand in hand, is highly important in fighting crime in our communities and in the country,” he stated.
The Sultan also commended the organisers of the summit, describing the gathering as an important platform for exchanging ideas and building partnerships aimed at addressing insecurity.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Arewa for Peace, Unity, Cohesion and Development Initiative, Dr. Abdullahi Idris, said the summit was convened to develop practical solutions to the growing security challenges facing Northern Nigeria.
