In a decisive response to escalating banditry and mass abductions, political and traditional leaders from North-west Nigeria have convened a high-level summit, issuing a forceful call for a radical overhaul of the nation’s security architecture.
The one-day North-West Zonal Security Summit, held in Kaduna on Saturday, 29th November, brought together federal lawmakers, top security chiefs, traditional rulers, and senior government officials, including the Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar.
The event, organised by the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on National Security, was themed “Building Robust Regional Collaborations to Tackle Insecurity: Pathways for Securing the Future.”
The most significant proposal came from Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, who presented a multi-pronged strategy for immediate action. He called for the establishment of a dedicated North-West Theatre Command to unify the Nigerian Army’s 1st and 8th Divisions.
“This measure will fast-track intelligence sharing, enhance coordinated operations and dismantle the cross-state criminal networks fuelling insecurity,” Governor Sani stated.
He also urged the Federal Government to expand the mandate of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to cover Nigeria’s border with the Niger Republic, aiming to disrupt arms trafficking and deny bandits cross-border sanctuaries.
Beyond military action, Governor Sani advocated for a grassroots approach, proposing state and local security committees involving traditional rulers, clerics, and civil society to serve as early-warning platforms. He renewed the urgent call for state police, arguing that Nigeria’s centralised system, with fewer than 400,000 officers for 230 million people, is no longer fit for purpose.
Response, Critics
In his address, the Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to an adaptive security strategy. He highlighted military gains from recent joint operations, including the reopening of key highways and the revival of formerly deserted markets in areas like Kaura Namoda, Shinkafi, and Batsari.
However, he acknowledged that the region continued to face persistent attacks.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Muhammad Isa of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, offered a stark critique, asserting that current security strategies are failing. He cited fragmentation, weak coordination, and overstretched institutions as key reasons tactical gains rarely translate into sustainable peace.
The Chairman of the organising committee, Babangida Hussaini, confirmed that the summit’s recommendations would be presented at a National Security Summit scheduled for December 1st in Abuja.
The North-west remained one of Nigeria’s most volatile regions, with armed groups moving freely across vast forest corridors. The humanitarian toll is severe, with farming collapsed, schools shuttered, and thousands of people displaced.
The Kaduna summit reflects a growing consensus that the crisis is a multidimensional emergency requiring coordinated regional war-footing, long-term structural reforms, and stronger community participation.