The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad, has asserted that peace is the only pathway to enduring development in the region.
According to him, community policing is central to tackling the menace of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.
He made his remarks while speaking at a peace summit organised by the Arewa Peace, Unity, Cohesion and Development Initiative (APUCDI) held at Arewa House, Kaduna.
Represented by the Ciroman Kano, Alhaji Lamido Sanusi, the Sultan advocated for community policing if the region is to secure its communities.
While calling on the people to fear Allah, he said: “We all know the terrain and those bad eggs in our midst. Why are we accommodating them? We must wake up and fight the enemies within if we are serious about ending violence and bringing peace to our communities.”
Earlier, the Director-General of Arewa Cohesion, Dr Abdullahi Idris, called for a united front in the region to tackle the menace of insecurity.
“As sons and daughters of the North, bound by a shared ancestry and a common destiny, ‘One North, One Voice’ is no longer just a rallying cry; it is our vital imperative for prosperity.
“For too long, our region has bled under the shadow of insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping. These crises have fractured our social fabric and stifled our potential. We refuse to look away. We can no longer afford the paralysis of finger-pointing or the hollow comfort of silence.”
He said the challenges are formidable, but our collective resolve must be unbreakable. “This summit is our strategic intervention. We are here to transform rhetoric into results and complaints into actionable solutions.
“Without governance, security can only produce temporary calm. Likewise, development without protection may expose communities to further violence.”
In his contribution, Professor Murtala Ahmed Rufai of the Office of the National Security Adviser called on agencies to adopt intelligence-led, civilian-centred operations and strengthen joint coordination mechanisms across affected states.
Represented by Professor Tasiu Dansabo of the Department of Sociology, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, he noted that governments should institutionalise community-based early warning and early response systems involving traditional rulers, women, youth, farmers and pastoralists.
He also noted: “The criminal justice system should strengthen investigations and prosecutions of financiers, informants and political protectors of criminal groups, alongside armed fighters. Women, youth, traditional and religious institutions should be given meaningful, well-resourced decision-making roles in peace committees, early warning networks and governance structures.”