Isiaka Mustapha, CEO/Editor-in-Chief, People’s Security Monitor

Gombe State, under the leadership of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, now stands as a remarkable example of peace and stability in Nigeria’s North-East an area long troubled by insurgency, banditry, and communal unrest. Although it shares borders with high-risk states such as Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, Gombe has experienced significantly fewer security breaches while attracting growing investor interest. This notable progress is the result of deliberate institutional restructuring, inclusive community involvement, proactive youth engagement, and the introduction of strategic legal mechanisms.

Since assuming office in May 2019, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya made security a top priority, aligning his governance with a clear promise to minimize crime and safeguard lives and property. True to this vision, one of his first decisive actions was the establishment of the Ministry of Internal Security and Ethical Orientation in September 2019. This ministry was structured to harmonize the efforts of formal security agencies with informal and traditional systems, strengthen community policing, and foster coordinated grassroots intelligence for effective public safety management.

To entrench community policing, security committees were systematically established at the ward, district, and emirate levels. These grassroots structures were equipped with exclusive hotlines for timely reporting of security incidents, allowing for swift response and preemptive action. Traditional rulers and religious figures were actively involved in conflict resolution efforts through their inclusion in dedicated peace-building frameworks. Notably, farmer-herder reconciliation committees were constituted in all 11 local government areas to mediate disputes and promote harmony. In addition, about 2,000 youth volunteers were enlisted and professionally trained under the Gombe State Security, Traffic, and Environmental Corps (G-STEC), where they now assist in maintaining order, supporting regulatory agencies, and acting as frontline responders.

Security summits further strengthened strategy and coordination. The first was convened early in his term, followed by a second in early 2025, themed “Building a Safer and More Secure Gombe State: Addressing Insecurity through Collective Action.” At the second summit, Yahaya distributed 50 vehicles to security agencies and emphasized collective action to tackle challenges such as communal and farmer-herder conflicts.

Financial commitment to security has been significant. In the 2023 state budget, Gombe allocated NGN 555 million to enhance internal security and ethical orientation, along with NGN 842 million dedicated to governance communication and citizen engagement via media platforms.

Independent evaluations continue to affirm Gombe State’s solid reputation for security. In a 2022 report by Eons Intelligence, the state recorded zero incidents of kidnapping or death during the monitoring period, an impressive feat given its proximity to conflict-ridden states in the North-East. Security experts consistently rank Gombe as the most peaceful state in the region, with the lowest casualty figures from violent conflict. Over a span of 14 years, the state recorded just 570 fatalities remarkably lower than Borno and other neighboring states.

This atmosphere of stability has directly fueled Gombe’s economic progress. The state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) surged from NGN 7.34 billion in 2018 to NGN 13.6 billion by 2022 nearly doubling within four years. In 2023, Gombe also earned national acclaim as Nigeria’s top-performing state in ease of doing business.

Despite this progress, challenges remain. Communal frictions, farmer-herder tensions, and the risks posed by porous borders persist. However, Governor Yahaya’s approach emphasizes preemptive measures—favoring grassroots dialogue, traditional mediation, and intelligence gathering over force-based responses.

To institutionalize this strategy, the government enacted the Gombe State Security, Traffic, and Environmental Commission Law (GOSTEC Law 2025) in May 2025. Signed by the governor, the law repealed the 2018 social services framework and established GOSTEC as a state-level agency responsible for coordinating internal security, traffic management, and environmental protection. Its mandate is not to replace federal authorities but to strengthen local engagement and enhance collaborative governance.

In summary, Gombe State under Governor Inuwa Yahaya illustrates how localized, preventive, and participatory security policy can transform a context once perceived as vulnerable into one of Nigeria’s most stable states. Sustained institutional support, youth deployment, community networks, security summits, budget prioritization, and legislative innovation combine to form a replicable template. The Gombe model offers concrete lessons on how peace, when anchored in governance and collective ownership, becomes a foundation for development.