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Dada Ahmed, Editor The Reporters.
Dr Peter Tukura, fielding questions from journalists at the occasion in Lokoja on Tuesday.
Law-abiding Nigerians, regardless of ethnic, religious, or political differences, have been urged to view the fight against insecurity as a shared national duty, rather than the sole responsibility of the military and other security agencies.
Dr. Peter Tukura gave the advice while responding to questions from journalists at the end of a press conference organized by the Igala/Bassa Progressive Forum.
At the event, the forum declared its support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State in the 2027 general elections, citing governance among other reasons that informed the decision of the Forum.
Dr. Tukura, who described himself as a researcher on security issues in Nigeria, identified three major dimensions of insecurity in the country,religious, political, and ethnic.
He stressed that the military and other security agencies require the active cooperation of citizens, through the supply of useful information about dark spots to security agencies to effectively tackle the menace.
Dr. Tukura argued that perpetrators of these heinous crimes live within communities and are often known to residents.
According to him, civic responsibility demands that such individuals be reported promptly to security agencies to prevent further escalation of violence.
The scholar described insecurity in Nigeria as a matter of grave concern, noting that the country has lost a significant number of both military personnel and civilians.
He emphasized the need for an increased,comprehensive and multi-dimensional approach to addressing the crisis in order to restore lasting peace.
While commending the federal and state governments for their efforts so far, Dr. Tukura called for intensified action through the adoption of more advanced and proactive security strategies to curb the activities of criminal elements.
He further noted that in cases where insecurity is driven by religious differences, government should promote religious harmony by supporting programmes that educate citizens on religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence among adherents of different faiths.
Citing Zamfara State as an example, Dr. Tukura explained that illegal mining, particularly of gold and other mineral resources, has contributed significantly to insecurity in the area.
He urged the federal government to take more decisive steps to regulate mining activities and find lasting solutions to the problem.
On the persistent herders-farmers crisis, the researcher observed that the growing population of livestock, compared to availability of gracing lands has intensified clashes between herders and farmers.
He recommended the establishment of ranches as a sustainable solution to end the recurring conflicts and promote peaceful coexistence.
Report by Correspondent in Lokoja.
