In a powerful consensus, leaders from Nigeria’s security, policy, and civil society spheres have issued a stark warning: the escalating violence against police, military, and paramilitary personnel represents a direct assault on the state itself, demanding an immediate and unified national response. This urgent call to action was the central theme of the Grand Finale and National Security Dialogue of the second edition of the Campaign Against Killing of Security Personnel, held in Abuja.
The stakeholders, convening against a backdrop of increasing ambushes, targeted killings, and assaults on officers, framed the crisis not merely as a law enforcement issue, but as a fundamental threat to national stability and sovereign authority. The trend, they argued, erodes the very social contract, weakening public trust and emboldening non-state actors.
A Calculated Assault on State Institutions
Abdullahi Maiwada, National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), represented by ASC Folusho Adeogun, provided a critical perspective from the front lines. He detailed how officers, particularly in border regions and major trade corridors, are increasingly targeted by sophisticated criminal networks, including smugglers and terrorists. “An attack on an officer is a calculated assault on state institutions,” Maiwada stated, highlighting the symbolic and practical damage. “It’s a strategy to demoralize enforcement, disrupt governance, and create zones of lawlessness where criminal enterprise can flourish.”
His proposed solution moved beyond simple condemnation to a multi-pronged strategy: intelligence-led operations to pre-empt attacks, improved training and modern technology (like surveillance and communication gear) for officer safety, better welfare and psychological support to boost morale, and stronger inter-agency collaboration to close operational gaps. Crucially, he emphasized active community participation, noting that when citizens view security personnel as partners rather than occupiers, intelligence sharing improves dramatically. “This relationship transforms communities from passive bystanders into active nodes in the national security network,” he explained.
The Ripple Effect on National Resources and Crime
Commander Attah Onoja of the Mining Marshals connected the attacks to broader criminal economies. He cautioned that every successful attack on a security operative strengthens syndicates involved in illegal mining, banditry, and arms trafficking. “These officers are the bulwark protecting our national resources and territorial integrity. When they are neutralized, it creates a security vacuum that criminals instantly exploit,” Onoja said. He personalizes the loss, reminding the public that “these officers are fathers, mothers, sons and daughters who have chosen national service over personal safety,” a narrative aimed at rebuilding empathy and solidarity.
His message to communities was unequivocal: cooperation is not optional. “When communities work with security agencies, criminals lose their hiding places and violence loses its oxygen. A community that shields criminals is ultimately hosting its own tormentors.” This underscores the need for localized trust-building initiatives that go beyond top-down security mandates.
From Advocacy to Sustainable Policy Solutions
The Convener of the Campaign, Oluwayomi Oluwapelumi, outlined the evolution of the initiative from regional advocacy in Lagos and Ogun states to a national dialogue focused on policy-driven solutions. The campaign’s structure signals a necessary shift from reactive outrage to sustained, strategic engagement with legislative and executive arms of government. “The safety of security operatives must be treated as a national priority on par with economic or health emergencies,” Oluwapelumi concluded, framing it as a prerequisite for national cohesion. “A nation that fails to protect those sworn to protect it is actively undermining its own foundation.”
The Path Forward: A Unified National Security Compact
The dialogue culminates in a clear, if challenging, prescription. Halting the attacks requires moving from isolated agency actions to a coordinated national security compact. This compact must integrate:
1. Enhanced Operational Capabilities for personnel in high-risk zones.
2. Legislative Review to ensure stricter consequences for attacks on state agents.
3. Community-Policing Frameworks that incentivize collaboration and information sharing.
4. National Public Re-engagement to rebuild the citizen-officer bond and re-establish state authority as a guarantor of safety, not a source of fear.
The stakeholders’ message is unambiguous: the wave of attacks is a symptom of a deeper vulnerability. Addressing it is not just about protecting lives—it is about defending the integrity and future of the Nigerian state. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
ATAB/BRM
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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
