The Federal Government should invest heavily in technology in order for the security agencies to respond appropriately to the increasing sophistication of bandits, participants at the 2nd Umaru Shinkafi Intelligence and Security Summit urged yesterday. They also urged that Nigeria’s security architecture be retooled in order to adequately respond to the threats of banditry and kidnapping.
A communique issued at the end of the summit in Abuja on Thursday called for a holistic tackling of security threats bedeviling the country. It said equality gap in society should be closed, intelligence gathering should be improved and the security forces should be sufficiently motivated with better welfare and equipment.
The summit regretted the absence of coordinated security strategy, which it said gave rise to confusion and working at cross purposes among major players. It urged all Nigerians to fully get involved in the fight to root out criminals by supporting security agents. The summit also said the security situation in the country requires more than kinetic measures. Government should promote dialogue and peacebuilding with active participation of affected communities, it said.
Banditry and kidnapping, the summit said, threaten people’s economic wellbeing, discourage trade and investment and deepen poverty and illiteracy. The summit also commended security agencies for their sacrifices in confronting kidnapping and banditry around the country.
Speakers at the summit included Governors Babagana Zulum of Borno, Hope Uzodinma of Imo, Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger, Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi states.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami also spoke, as did Emir of Zazzau Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, Director General of DSS Alhaji Yusuf Bichi, who was represented, former Minister of Education Prof Tunde Adeniran; renown psychiatrist Dr. Maimuna Qadiri, EndSARS founder Segun Awosanya, women and child rights activist Hajiya Zara’u Idris and Dr. Rakiya Baba Ma’aji, who represented the Director General of National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA.
