Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Wilson Inalegwu has called for a sweeping overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture by strengthening local government security structures and traditional institutions, describing them as the “true frontline” in the battle against insecurity. He made the remarks yesterday in Abuja at the 2025 Annual People’s Security Monitor Security Summit and Recognition Awards, where he delivered a thought-provoking address titled “Building Security from the Ground Up.”

Speaking to an audience of policymakers, security practitioners, traditional rulers, civil society organisations and youth groups, Inalegwu said Nigeria now stands at a “historic crossroads” as violent crimes, communal clashes and insurgency escalate across the country. According to him, the threats facing the nation demand fresh thinking, deeper community involvement and a renewed appreciation for the traditional structures that have held Nigerian communities together for generations.

He lamented that national security conversations in Nigeria have for decades focused mainly on federal interventions and military operations, while neglecting the grassroots where insecurity actually begins. “Banditry, kidnapping and communal conflicts take root in farmlands, wards and villages long before they escalate,” he said, citing a Nigeria Security Tracker report showing that more than 70 percent of incidents between 2021 and 2024 occurred at the community level.

Inalegwu stressed that the local government system constitutionally the closest to the people—has been underutilised in security governance. While the 2019 National Security Strategy outlines broad objectives, he said it fails to clearly define the role of Local Government Security Committees (LGSCs), despite their potential in early-warning, rapid response and community mobilisation. He called for a restructured framework that places LGSCs at the heart of intelligence gathering and conflict prevention.

He also referenced resolutions made during the House of Representatives Special Session on National Security, reminding participants that lawmakers themselves acknowledged that security threats are evolving faster than current institutional responses. He urged government at all levels to “reset the security architecture from the bottom up” by strengthening grassroots policing and rebuilding early-warning systems across rural and urban communities.

The retired AIG cited examples from Borno, Lagos, Katsina and Niger States where community collaborations significantly reduced attacks and improved intelligence flow. These cases, he said, prove that a functional grassroots security model already exists in parts of the country and can be replicated nationwide with political will, funding and consistency.

A major highlight of his presentation was the emphasis on traditional rulers, whom he described as “the most trusted custodians of community intelligence.” Inalegwu said emirs, obas, obis and chiefs possess deep knowledge of local histories, tensions and social dynamics that no external agency can match. States that integrate traditional institutions into their security networks, he said, consistently record fewer violent confrontations and enjoy longer periods of peace.

According to him, collaboration between local governments and traditional institutions creates a formidable shield against criminal networks that exploit weak coordination and information gaps. He warned that early signs of insecurity—such as unusual movements, sudden changes in migration patterns and suspicious behaviour—are often noticed first at the grassroots but rarely reach security agencies in time.

Inalegwu drew attention to the economic toll of insecurity, noting that Nigeria lost an estimated 10.3 billion dollars between 2018 and 2023 due to disrupted agriculture, mining, transportation and trade. More than 2.6 million people were also displaced by rural banditry in the North West and North Central. Preventing these crises through strong grassroots structures, he said, is cheaper and far more sustainable than responding after lives have been lost.

He advocated for a coordinated security model that links local government committees, traditional rulers, community organisations, vigilante groups and formal agencies. For this to succeed, he insisted, local governments must regain administrative and financial autonomy to support joint patrols, early-warning centres, trained liaison officers and community engagement teams.

Technology also featured prominently in Inalegwu’s recommendations. He urged the adoption of digital alert platforms, basic drone surveillance in border communities and geo-mapped intelligence systems, noting that similar innovations in Kenya and South Africa led to measurable reductions in community-level crime.

He further emphasised the need to empower youths and women, describing them as “critical engines of grassroots intelligence.” With youths constituting over 60 percent of Nigeria’s population, he warned that unemployment leaves them vulnerable to criminal recruitment. Women, he added, possess unique social intelligence and play indispensable roles in peacebuilding.

As he concluded, Retired AIG Wilson Inalegwu called for stronger coordination between the Office of the Security Adviser, state governments and local councils to ensure seamless information flow and effective early-response mechanisms. “If we strengthen the grassroots, we strengthen the nation,” he declared. “If we empower communities, we weaken criminals. A united partnership between local governments and traditional institutions is Nigeria’s surest path to lasting peace.”

The summit ended with widespread agreement among participants that Inalegwu’s message provides a timely roadmap for rebuilding Nigeria’s security from the foundation upward.