In a significant effort to bolster national security, the Nigerian Armed Forces have been urged to recognize the pivotal role traditional rulers play in addressing the country’s security challenges. This important reminder was conveyed by Eze Okey Ananaba, speaking on behalf of Eze Linus Nto Mbah, the Chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, during a visit from students of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji. The visit, which took place in Umuahia, highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between security agencies and community leadership structures.
At the heart of the discussion was the emphasis on harnessing grassroots intelligence and cultural insight to tackle internal security threats across Nigeria. The monarch underscored the critical functions traditional leaders perform, including monitoring new entrants into communities, identifying unusual activities, and maintaining informal networks of informants. Additionally, they play a significant role in community policing, organizing, and supervising vigilante groups that work closely with police and military units. As the monarch aptly put it, “we are the first responders, the surveillance agents, and the moral anchors of our communities.”
The event, part of a nationwide Environmental Study Tour themed “Harnessing Grassroots Intelligence for Enhanced Internal Security,” provided a platform for the Abia traditional rulers to outline challenges facing community security. These challenges include the lack of formal security training for palace personnel, insufficient funding for local security outfits, and significant intelligence gaps in communities without officially installed traditional rulers.
Brigadier General Nnaemeka Oghili, who led the delegation from Jaji, underscored the Nigerian Armed Forces’ deep appreciation for the contributions of traditional institutions to security efforts. He emphasized that such tours are a vital part of their curriculum, designed to help officers understand the realities on the ground and engage directly with stakeholders. As General Oghili noted, “This tour is a vital part of our curriculum. It helps our officers understand the realities on the ground and engage directly with stakeholders like you.”
This call for collaboration and the acknowledgment of traditional rulers’ roles in national security signal a significant step towards a more inclusive and community-driven approach to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges. By recognizing the value of grassroots intelligence and the pivotal position of traditional leaders within their communities, the Nigerian Armed Forces can foster more effective partnerships that ultimately enhance internal security across the country.