Tinubu Urges Communities, Traditional Rulers and Security Agencies to Strengthen Intelligence Sharing and Rapid Response.
Enugu Media Village (EMV) | September 1, 2026.
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Federal Government has launched a North Central Community Early Warning and Early Response Network as part of renewed efforts to strengthen grassroots security, improve intelligence gathering and prevent emerging threats from escalating into violent conflicts.
The initiative was unveiled at the 2026 North Central Security Summit held at the New Banquet Hall of the Benue State Government House in Makurdi. The summit was convened by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Defence.
The new network is designed to create a structured channel through which communities can identify and report emerging security threats, facilitate information sharing with relevant authorities and support faster intervention before incidents develop into major security crises.
The initiative places particular emphasis on the role of local communities, traditional institutions and other grassroots stakeholders, who are often among the first to detect unusual movements, tensions or other warning signs.
Speaking at the summit, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, Dr. Abiodun Essiet, stressed that communities must remain central to the country’s approach to early warning and conflict prevention.
Tinubu Calls for Collective Action
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented at the summit by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, called for stronger collaboration among governments, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders and communities.
The President maintained that military operations alone cannot guarantee sustainable peace, stressing the importance of addressing the social, economic and environmental factors that contribute to insecurity.
He also urged citizens to provide timely and credible intelligence to security agencies while discouraging communities from shielding criminals because of ethnic, family or other affiliations.
Tinubu further called for greater participation of women and young people in peace-building efforts and urged the private sector and development partners to invest more in the region, noting that employment and economic opportunities are important components of long-term security.
Regional Cooperation Takes Centre Stage
The summit brought together governors and representatives of North-Central states, security and intelligence chiefs, traditional and religious leaders, community representatives, legislators and other stakeholders.
Discussions focused on tackling banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder conflicts, communal violence, organised crime and violent-extremism spillovers, with participants advocating stronger inter-state intelligence sharing and coordinated security responses.
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia and Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang also backed stronger regional cooperation and community-led security measures, reflecting growing recognition that security challenges in the North Central frequently cross state boundaries.
The Federal Government’s new early-warning initiative is therefore expected to strengthen the link between communities and security institutions, allowing authorities to receive information about potential threats earlier and respond more effectively.
For many communities affected by insecurity, the success of the initiative will ultimately depend not only on establishing the network but also on ensuring that credible reports receive swift, coordinated and effective responses.
Enugu Media Village (EMV), the Most Updated Online News Platform, will continue to monitor developments surrounding the Federal Government’s security initiatives and their impact on communities across Nigeria.