In light of the escalating state of insecurity and the obvious helplessness of Nigeria’s security agencies, a security chieftain, Matthew Ibadin, has called for the establishment of a Community Self-Defense Commission to enable communities to position themselves as the first line of defense in the current situation.
He posited that by creating such a commission and mandating it to coordinate activities of local communities toward fighting criminality at the grassroots level, the current situation of high insecurity would be curbed, as criminals are easier to identify within the local communities.
According to Ibadin, who is currently the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Badinson Security Limited, Lagos, in a statement on Saturday, the proposed Community Self-Defense Commission should be designed to empower communities to defend themselves responsibly during attacks.
He stated that the commission should make it possible for communities to create and operate their structures independently, with financial contributions sourced from within the local populace, as well as from community members residing in cities across Nigeria and in the diaspora, and in collaboration with the government.
Ibadin emphasised that this call is a matter of urgent necessity, borne out of the increasing number of cases where vulnerable Nigerians are attacked, raped, or murdered while farming or residing in their ancestral lands.
“We can no longer stand by and watch our mothers, fathers, and children being slaughtered in the forests and on farmlands. This call is about defeating the invaders who encroach on others’ community land,” he emphasised.
He stated further that selected community defenders, after undergoing proper screening and training, should be legally permitted to bear arms, including AK-47 rifles, for the sole purpose of community defense, adding that the rules of engagement should be designed to eliminate unregulated access to local lands by external actors who are invaders.
The Badinson Security boss clearly stated that no individual or group should be permitted to hunt or graze on any community land without express consent.
“If you want to hunt and graze, do it in your own community. The era of invading others’ lands and slaughtering innocent persons must end now,” he said.
In addition, he called for direct support and recognition by President Bola Tinubu, as he urged the National Assembly to urgently give legislative bite to the proposed commission with a view to legalising the commission.
He also advocated the inclusion of traditional rulers in the scheme, as they are major stakeholders in ensuring security in their domains.
According to him, the call offers a scalable and community-rooted solution to reduce the pressure on federal security agencies while promoting peace and local control.
He added that the commission should be headed by a seasoned security expert, and the Board of Directors should also constitute personalities with unquestionable pedigree, just as he emphasized that members of the board should not be serving or retired law enforcement personnel with an interest in political office.
He emphasized that since the dawn of democracy in 1999, no elected president has taken the bull by the horns to ensure that these invaders are punished or flushed out.
He then urged the president to set aside party partisanship and stop the shedding of innocent blood and to set up a special tribunal for the prosecution of these offenders, with trial and judgment on cases delivered within six months.
He recommended that offenses like kidnapping, farm destruction, and invasion of communities should be handled by a Special Tribunal, as the aforementioned cases should be treated as emergencies.
Furthermore, Ibadin advised that politics, which is more of a vocation, should be separated from security, generally perceived as a profession.
He was quick to clarify in his statement that this call should not be misconstrued as a call for what he described as vigilantism.
“Rather, it is a complementary measure aimed at reinforcing state authority and protecting human dignity at the grassroots. The presence of armed defenders in each community will serve as a deterrent, while the goal is to protect,” he noted.
He concluded by emphasizing that “it is highly overdue for communities to be involved in their security matters because crime is local.” (NAN)
