Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has inaugurated a nine-member Security Advisory Council to complement existing security agencies and address the economic and social drivers of insecurity in the state.

Mr Sule, while inaugurating the council on Monday in Lafia, said that the increasingly complex nature of security challenges required a coordinated and intelligence-driven approach beyond the deployment of personnel and equipment.

He said sustainable security required justice, dialogue, responsible leadership, economic opportunities, community participation and mutual trust between citizens and government.

“Through sustained dialogue and engagement with traditional institutions, we can strengthen early warning mechanisms to improve information flow and promote peaceful resolution of disputes before they escalate into security challenges,” he said.

The governor said that the council would combine enforcement with prevention, intelligence gathering and development, while working closely with traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth organisations and women’s groups.

He noted that such groups possessed valuable knowledge of developments within their communities, adding that the proliferation of criminal activities across the state’s borders and communities was partly linked to gaps in information gathering and forest management.

Mr Sule clarified that the council was not established to duplicate or diminish the responsibilities of existing security agencies, but to complement their efforts through strategic coordination, analysis and policy advice.

He said the state government would continue to collaborate with the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

According to him, the council’s terms of reference include advising the government on the day-to-day security situation, strengthening intelligence-driven security operations and examining frameworks for community policing.

Others are bridging the gap between government and the grassroots, as well as providing strategic advice on emerging security threats and preventive measures.

Mr Sule commended the appointees for accepting the appointment and urged them to approach the assignment with seriousness, impartiality and confidentiality.

He assured that the government would continue to invest in preventive security measures and address the underlying causes of insecurity across the state.

The council is chaired by Retired Maj.-Gen. Elias Abba, a former force commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force in N’Djamena, Chad.

Other members are retired deputy inspector general of police Mohammed Ari-Doma, retired Brig.-Gen. Japo Abashi-Ebu, Retired Wing-Cdr. Umar Ibrahim-Awe, retired Wing-Cdr. Mukhtar Usman, retired Commissioner of Police Isa Usman Baba and Retired CSC Adamu Tanko Umar.

Pharmacist Iliya Sunday, permanent secretary, security and sundry matters, serves as Secretary of the council.

Responding on behalf of the council, Mr Abba pledged its commitment to providing holistic security advice that would address poverty, unemployment and social dislocation as drivers of crime.

He also said that the council would play its role in supporting security preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections. 

(NAN)