The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), with support from Open Society Foundations Africa (OSF-Africa), held a community security dialogue on an early warning and response system in Kano on Wednesday.
The goal of the dialogue was to address growing security challenges in the North-West region by fostering collaboration among local communities and security agencies.
A particular focus was on enhancing early warning systems to ensure prompt and effective responses to potential threats.
In his welcome address, Jimoh Abubakar, Program Manager for Defence and Security at CISLAC, emphasized the importance of identifying early warning signs before conflicts escalate.
While emphasizing the importance of vigilance at the community level, he said conflict situations do not emerge without warning.
“Before conflicts happen, there must be early signals that should not be overlooked” he added.
Abubakar highlighted the role of the media in reporting conflict situations, cautioning that insensitive or inflammatory media coverage could exacerbate tensions.
He urged journalists to adopt a conflict-sensitive approach in their reportage to prevent the escalation of violence.
“Traditional and religious leaders are essential partners in managing and preventing conflict.
“They must refrain from inciting their followers and instead work towards peaceful resolutions.
“Their involvement in promoting harmony within communities is critical for the success of early warning and response mechanisms.
The facilitator of the dialogue, Associate Professor Sharkdam Wapmuk, underscored the importance of swift responses to early warning signs, noting that timely intervention can save lives and mitigate potential crises.
He pointed out that security threats such as banditry, kidnapping for ransom, cattle rustling, and ethnic and religious clashes are largely man-made and could be managed effectively with robust early warning systems.
“Neglecting early warning signals can have grave consequences, and these repercussions can spread like a bushfire to neighboring communities.
“There is a need for communities to build resilience, adapt to changing threats, and work towards sustainable solutions by making early warning and response systems more effective,” he said.
Wapmuk also highlighted the broader benefits of early warning mechanisms, stating that they promote long-term stability, sustainability, and social cohesion, helping communities become less susceptible to future crises.
Ambassador Maimuna Sharif, Special Adviser to the Kano State Government on Community Policing, reemphasized the importance of community involvement in security efforts.
She called on residents to take ownership of their security and collaborate closely with law enforcement agencies.
“Communities should own the security for themselves and work together with other agencies to promote peace, as they are the eyes of the police,” Sharif said.
Shariff shared a success story, revealing that information provided by community members recently helped the police track down and apprehend suspected terrorists attempting to establish themselves in Kano.
“This information was gathered through the vigilance of community members, and I want to urge them to keep reporting issues that make them uncomfortable,” she added.
The dialogue which was held at Bizzare Luxury Hotel in Nassarawa, had stakeholders from security agencies, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and Hisbah, community leaders, and members of civil society.
