MorganabLE News/security& justice
Represented at the summit by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Tinubu said insecurity in the North-Central required a collective response involving not only security agencies but also communities, youths, women, development partners and the private sector.
KaNo—
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday called on traditional and religious leaders across Nigeria’s North-Central region to take a frontline role in combating insecurity, urging them to serve as early warning channels and mediators within their communities.
The President made the appeal at the 2026 North-Central Regional Security Summit held in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, where he stressed the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to address the persistent wave of violence and instability in the region.
Represented at the summit by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Tinubu said insecurity in the North-Central required a collective response involving not only security agencies but also communities, youths, women, development partners and the private sector.
The summit, themed “Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability,” brought together policymakers, security officials and community leaders to deliberate on sustainable solutions to the region’s security challenges.
Tinubu Emphasizes Traditional Leaders Role In Detecting Early Signs Of Conflict
Tinubu emphasised that traditional and religious leaders possess unique authority and grassroots knowledge that position them to detect early signs of conflict and prevent escalation.
He said such leaders must act as trusted voices of reconciliation in their communities, helping to defuse tensions before they spiral into violence.
“To our revered traditional rulers and religious leaders, you hold an authority that no uniform confers,” the President said.
“You know your communities intimately. You know when a stranger arrives, when a young man falls into bad company, and when a quarrel between two families is about to become a conflict between two peoples.”he added.
According to him, insecurity continues to thrive partly because of gaps in information sharing and coordination among stakeholders.
He noted that criminals often exploit institutional rivalries and weak collaboration frameworks to operate across local government and state boundaries without resistance.
“Insecurity transcends state boundaries and institutional mandates,” Tinubu said. “No single agency, no single tier of government and no single community can secure this region acting alone.”
Tinubu Acknowledges Ongoing Military Efforts
The President acknowledged ongoing efforts by the military, police and intelligence agencies, noting that his administration had strengthened the country’s security architecture through improved inter-agency cooperation and the acquisition of modern equipment.
He added that several gains had been recorded in recent months, including the neutralisation of key terrorist commanders, the surrender of thousands of fighters and the rescue of abducted victims.
He said these efforts had helped restore relative calm to some affected communities.
However, Tinubu stressed that military action alone would not guarantee lasting peace, calling for a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of conflict.
“Force can suppress violence; it cannot resolve the grievances that produce it,” he said, identifying factors such as land disputes, competition over water resources, climate change, desertification, weak local dispute-resolution mechanisms and the proliferation of illicit arms as key drivers of insecurity.
He explained that the Federal Government was implementing policies aimed at tackling these underlying issues, including reforms in the livestock sector to reduce clashes between farmers and herders.
Tinubu Says Transition From Open Grazing To Modern Practices Would Help Address Communal Conflict
Tinubu said the transition from open grazing to modern, settled livestock production systems, spearheaded by the Ministry of Livestock Development, was designed to protect farmlands, improve pastoral livelihoods and eliminate a major trigger of communal conflict.
He also highlighted the Reclaiming the Ungoverned Space for Economic Benefits Programme under the Ministry of Defence, which seeks to deploy retired military personnel to stabilise and rebuild communities recovering from violence.
The President noted that broader economic interventions under his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda,such as investments in irrigation, mechanised agriculture, rural infrastructure and access to credit,were aimed at addressing poverty and unemployment, which often fuel insecurity.
He called on development partners and the private sector to view the North-Central not merely as a region in need of aid but as an area with significant investment potential, capable of driving economic growth if stability is restored.
Tinubu Urges Women, Youths To Support Peacebuilding
Tinubu further urged women and youths to take active roles in peacebuilding efforts, describing them as critical stakeholders in promoting social cohesion and resilience at the community level.
In his welcome address, Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, said the summit’s theme was timely, given the persistent security challenges facing the region.
Alia noted that Benue and other North-Central states had continued to experience attacks, communal clashes and other forms of violence that required a unified and collaborative response.
“It is my considered position that our diversity should be a source of strength rather than weakness,” the governor said. “The issues are multidimensional, and as such, the solution must be collaborative.”
He emphasised the need for stakeholders to move beyond rhetoric and ensure that collaborative strategies discussed at the summit translate into concrete actions at the grassroots level.
According to him, traditional institutions and community leaders must be actively integrated into security frameworks, given their proximity to the people and understanding of local dynamics.
Alia also highlighted the region’s rich diversity and cultural heritage, noting that its identity as a hub of agriculture, tourism, minerals and national unity should promote peaceful coexistence rather than conflict.
“Our heritage does not breed violence,” he said, referencing the identities of states in the region, including Benue as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” Kogi as the “Confluence State,” Kwara as the “State of Harmony,” Nasarawa as the “Home of Solid Minerals,” Plateau as the “Home of Peace and Tourism,” Niger as the “Power State,” and the Federal Capital Territory as the “Centre of Unity.”
He added that the North-Central occupies a strategic position in Nigeria’s socioeconomic landscape, warning that instability in the region has far-reaching consequences for the entire country.
“When the North-Central is insecure, the entire nation feels the impact,” he said, citing its agricultural output and natural resource endowments.
The governor commended the Ministry of Defence and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for organising the summit, describing it as a critical step towards fostering dialogue and coordinated action.
Participants at the summit are expected to develop actionable recommendations aimed at strengthening security cooperation, improving intelligence sharing and addressing the socioeconomic drivers of conflict across the region.
Observers say the success of such initiatives will depend largely on sustained commitment from all stakeholders, particularly at the community level, where early warning systems and local mediation efforts can play a decisive role in preventing violence.
As the summit continues, stakeholders expressed hope that the renewed emphasis on collaboration would translate into tangible improvements in security and stability across the North-Central region.
