…Insist Sustainable Peace Must Begin Within Communities
…Security Agencies Alone Cannot Restore Stability
Daud Olatunji
Nigeria’s leading security and religious figures — National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah; and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III — have warned that the country cannot overcome insecurity through the barrel of a gun alone, insisting that sustainable peace must begin within communities.
The leaders spoke on Thursday in Abuja at a high-level dialogue on preventing violence and conflict in northern Nigeria, organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) in partnership with the Kukah Centre and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Ribadu, while outlining the Federal Government’s new security direction under President Bola Tinubu, said Nigeria must now embrace a whole-of-society model to defeat insurgency, banditry and emerging threats.
According to him, “No nation secures itself through security forces alone. Everyone must play a role, especially at the community level. That is how we build sustainable peace.”
The NSA said the government’s intelligence-led operations, expanded community engagement and reintegration programmes had led to major breakthroughs.
He disclosed that “thousands of insurgents have surrendered” while “several terrorism-related convictions” had been secured in recent months.
He added that improved collaboration with local communities had strengthened early-warning systems in crisis-prone areas.
“Improved cooperation from communities has enhanced resilience-building efforts across affected states,” Ribadu noted.
The NSA, however, warned that discussions at the dialogue must not end as mere talk.
“We must convert these conversations into concrete steps capable of restoring trust and stabilising communities,” he said, while commending the EU, ECOWAS and the NPC for their ongoing peacebuilding support.
Convener of the NPC, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, cautioned that the nation must rethink its approach to security, stressing that military force alone is incapable of restoring order in a society weakened by moral decline and social fragmentation.
According to him, “The scale of insecurity has reached alarming levels. We cannot solve our problems with weapons alone. We must rely on moral courage, conscience and truth.”
Kukah said peace must take root in Nigeria’s homes, villages and communities, not just in government institutions.
“Peace begins at the local level, with individuals, families and communities taking responsibility for harmony,” he stated.
He identified women and young people as essential actors in peacebuilding and social healing, describing their involvement as “critical to strengthening societal resilience.”
The cleric also warned that extremist ideologies thrive in weakened communities and must be confronted with values, dialogue and strengthened social structures.
He praised the NSA for promoting dialogue-driven solutions and urged participants to ensure the recommendations do not gather dust.
“We must turn these discussions into action. Tomorrow will be better than yesterday,” he assured.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, condemned the rise of religiously motivated violence, describing such actions as a distortion of faith and morality.
“Violence and killings in the name of religion contradict the true teachings of Islam and Christianity,” he warned.
Drawing from his military background and his experience as Defence Adviser in the Middle East, the monarch cautioned Nigerians against accepting false religious narratives used to justify bloodshed.
He reminded the audience that “worldly possessions are temporary. Only our deeds matter in the hereafter.”
The Sultan stressed the need for consistent engagement with communities, religious leaders and youths to counter extremism, saying he had maintained similar collaborations across Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna.
He emphasised that Nigeria’s diversity remains one of its greatest assets if properly managed.
“Our diversity is a national asset that can strengthen unity and resilience if properly harnessed,” he stated.
The monarch commended the National Peace Committee for expanding its work beyond elections into preventive dialogue and conflict resolution.
He concluded that “only through collective commitment can we achieve a peaceful, prosperous and united Nigeria.”
The dialogue brought together senior military officers, security agencies, civil society organisations, traditional rulers, clergy, political parties and international partners.
Participants pledged to deepen community engagement, expand early-warning systems and strengthen local peace structures as Nigeria battles rising extremism, communal clashes and banditry.
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